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THE JESUIT RELATIONS

AND

ALLIED DOCUMENTS

VOL. XXIX

The edition consists of sev-
en hundred and fifty sets
all numbered

ncAIL

The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents

Travels and Explorations
of the Jesuit Missionaries

in New France

1610-1791

THE ORIGINAL FRENCH, LATIN, AND ITAL-
IAN TEXTS, WITH ENGLISH TRANSLA-
TIONS AND NOTES ; ILLUSTRATED BY
PORTRAITS, MAPS, AND FACSIMILES

EDITED BY

REUBEN GOLD THWAITES

Secretary of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin

Vol. XXIX

Iroquois, Lower Canada, Hurons

1646

Cleveland: Zbc ^Burrows ;»3rotbers
Company, publishers, mdcccxcviii

Copyright, 1S98

BY

The Burrows Brothers Co

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Imperial Press, Cleveland

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor

Translators .

Assistant Editor

Reuben Gold Thwaites
f Finlow Alexander
Percy Favor Bicknell
Crawford Lindsay
William Price
Hiram Allen Sober
Emma Helen Blair

Bibliographical Adviser Victor Hugo Paltsits

CONTENTS OF VOL XXIX

Preface to Volume XXIX . . .9

Document: —

LX. Relation de ce qvi s'est passe .... en la
Novvelle France, esannees 1645. & 1646.
[Chaps, iii.-x., of Part I. ; Chaps, i.-iii.,
of Part II., — second installment of the
document.] Hierosme Lalemant, Quebek,
October 28, 1646; Paul Ragueneau, Des
Hurons, May 1, 1646 . . .15

Notes f . . . . .293

PREFACE TO VOL. XXIX

As stated in the Preface to Vol. XXVIII. , the Re-
lation of 1645-46 (Doc. LX.) is in two parts — Part I.
(dated at Quebec, October 28, 1646) being by the new-
superior of the Canadian missions, Jerome Lalemant;
Part II. (dated in the Huron country, May 1, 1646)
being the annual report on the Huron mission, this
time by Ragueneau. In Vol. XXVIII. we published
the first two chapters of Part I. ; there are herewith
presented the remaining eight chapters of that part,
and the three opening chapters of Part II. — leaving
the remainder of the document (five chapters) to form
the opening portion of Vol. XXX.

Continuing his Relation, Lalemant describes the
"blessed deaths " of Fathers Anne de Noue and
Enemond Masse. The former was frozen to death
on the St. Lawrence, while on an errand of charity;
a sketch of his life and character is given. Masse —
who, with Biard, had first of the Jesuits come to the
Canadian mission (161 1) — died at St. Joseph, an old
man. His adventurous, toilsome, and self-denying
career is described, and his purity and devoutness
are eulogized.

A mission is at last begun in the Iroquois country.
Jogues goes to the Mohawks, with Bourdon, as envoy
from the French governor; his journey, and the
proceedings of the Mohawk council, are related.
Having been received there in a friendly manner, the

10 PREFACE TO VOL. XXIX

devoted missionary resolves to return thither, that he
may preach the Gospel to his former tormentors; he
therefore departs on this fateful journey, shortly
before the present Relation is sent to France.

The residence of St. Joseph, at Sillery, is next
discussed. Almost all the Indians who frequent this
place are now baptized. They, in turn, have influ-
enced the Attikamegues and Abenakis to seek the
truth, and have sent to those tribes some of their
own number to preach the Gospel. The Abenakis
having asked for a missionary to reside among them,
Druillettes has gone to winter with that tribe. Some
conversions have occurred among the Algonkins of
the Island, but many of these savages " are, in a
sense, reprobate." The Sillery Indians watch over
not only their neighbors, but themselves; they will
not harbor persistent infidels; no obstacles hinder
them from daily attendance at mass; they spend
whole days quite without eating, rather than break
the prescribed fasts; they punish themselves most
severely for petty faults. " The Fathers newly
arrived tell us that in France one has no conception
of what they here see with their own eyes." At the
Christmas season they march — in piercing cold, and
fasting — to Quebec, and back to Sillery, to celebrate
a jubilee ordered the previous year.

At Three Rivers, — the central point of intercourse
and trade with all the upper tribes, — there are a
considerable number of Christians ; but they are so
exposed to annoyance and temptation, from the many
pagans who come and go at that settlement, that the
missionaries experience great difficulty in maintain-
ing their station there, and in cultivating the Chris-
tian virtues in their converts. The latter, in their

PREFACE TO VOL. XXIX 11

annual hunt, form a band separate from that of the
pagans, and are thus enabled to practice their Chris-
tian duties.

The Attikamegues at times come to Three Rivers
for confession and communion : these are a simple
and innocent folk, who give much comfort to the
missionaries. Through them, the knowledge of the
faith is beginning to spread to even more distant
tribes. Some conversions are recounted in detail.

The savages at Tadoussac are so devoted to their
religion that their ignorant zeal carries them into
several indiscretions, and their spiritual director is
obliged to administer reproofs; they acknowledge,
thereupon, that " the devil has led them astray," and
penitently confess their faults, — also offering the
Father " a present to take away his sadness" there-
at. As at Sillery, many hitherto pagan tribes are
attracted by the new religion that is preached to
those at Tadoussac, and many individuals go thither
to receive instruction and baptism. When they
return to their homes, the Father gives them a set
of variously notched and colored sticks, to remind
them of their prayers and other duties.

In the island of Montreal, " peace, union, and con-
cord have nourished this year." Some Indian bands
have settled there, intending to become sedentary;
others would do the same, if it were not for rumors
of Iroquois hostilities. The Mohawks keep the
peace; but the Oneidas and Onondagas are still
enemies, and make raids into the Huron country.
Several interesting conversions at Montreal are here
described. Some Huron families talk of coming
down to live on that island. It is hoped that Jogues
will succeed in persuading the Mohawks to restrain

12 PREFACE TO VOL. XXIX

the upper Iroquois from passing through their lands
to harass the French and their allies.

Lalemant relates numerous instances of the cour-
age and fidelity of the neophytes in resisting tempta-
tion and repelling the superstitious follies of the
pagans. Various cures of sickness are effected by
certain relics applied by the Fathers.

In the Tadoussac mission, the children are em-
ployed, by the Father in charge there, to search for
the drums, fetiches, and other instruments of super-
stition, which " the children have rendered so ridic-
ulous that there is no longer any one who dares to
use them, unless perhaps at night and in the depths
of the woods."

The writer recounts various savage customs, regard-
ing death and mourning, marriage, etc. He describes
the firefly, tree-toad, elk, and other creatures, — also
certain traits of the savage character. He mentions
the wretched deaths of the Iroquois who had slain
Goupil, and tortured Jogues and Bressani.

The Queen of France sends to the Sillery Indians a
portrait of herself, her husband, and their heir; this
is presented to them with speeches and gifts, after
their own custom, and they are overcome with
admiration at their kindness.

Part II. is Ragueneau's report, to the provincial in
Paris, of the Huron mission for the year. The tribes
therein have had some little respite from the calami-
ties that have so long oppressed them. Their crops,
fisheries, and trade have, Ragueneau says, all been
successful ; and the epidemic has, for the time,
ceased. Their only serious difficulty is in the hos-
tilities still carried on by the Iroquois tribes nearest

PREFACE TO VOL. XXIX 13

them, — the Mohawks alone having made a treaty of
peace. Several encounters between the Hurons and
Iroquois are related, — one of these following a crafty
and treacherous pretense of peace on the part of the
latter, by which the Hurons were surprised and
defeated. In other cases, they have been victorious, —
routing their enemies, and burning captives to death
in retaliation for their own losses. Deeds of great
courage are performed on both sides.

All the missions in Huronia, except that to the
wandering Algonkins therein, have been made
permanent residences. Each of these is in charge of
two missionaries, — Ragueneau, the superior, going
about to visit each in turn, and remaining at each
residence as long as its special needs require. At
each of these stations a chapel has been built, where-
in mass and vespers are said daily. In all, 164
persons have been baptized. These Huron converts
exhibit much zeal and devotion, of which several
instances are recounted. One of them takes occa-
sion, at the burning of an Iroquois captive, to ha-
rangue his tribesmen on the like punishment in hell
which their sins are bringing upon them ; and he
then proceeds, at the risk of his own life, to instruct
and baptize the poor victim. Another spends many
hours, and sometimes almost whole nights, in
prayer; often he cannot find words wherewith to
express the devotion that fills his soul.

R. G. T.

Madison, Wis., August, 1S9S.

LX (continued)

Relation of 1645-46

PARIS: SEBASTIEN ET GABRIEL CRAMOISY, 164;

This document was commenced in Volume XXVIII. ; we
herewith publish the second installment — chaps, iii.-x. of
Part I., and chaps, i.-iii. of Part II. The remainder of the
document will appear in Volume XXX.

16 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.. 29

[27] CHAPITRE III.

DE L'HEUREUSE MORT DU PERE ANNE DE NOUE, & DU
PERE ENEMOND MASSE.

PVIS que dans le Chapitre precedent nous auons
fait mention de la mort du Pere de Noiie, nous
en parlerons icy plus au long ; & tout enf emble
de celle du Pere Maffe, arriu£e cette mefme ann6e.
L'vne des grandes faueurs que Dieu ait faite aux
faindts Apoftres & aux faindts Martyrs, a efte de les
ietter dans les occafions, & comme dans vne heureufe
[28] neceffit6 d'agir & de fouffrir fortement pour leur
Maiftre ; les deux Peres dont ie vay parler, femblent
auoir participe a cette benedidtion.

Le 30. de Ianuier de cette prefente annee 1646. le
Pere Anne de Noiie partit de la refidence des trois
Riuieres, en la compagnie de deux foldats & d'vn
Huron pour s'en aller a Richelieu, eloigne de douze
lieues des trois Riuieres, pour dire la Meffe & pour
adminiftrer les Sacremens de Penitence & de l'Eu-
chariftie aux Francois qui font la. Toutes les riuieres
& tous les lacs n'eftoient qu'vne glace, & la terre
eftoit couuerte par tout de trois ou quatre pieds de
neige a fon ordinaire, pendant l'hyuer. Ce bon Pere
& fes compagnons marchans fur des raquettes pour
ne point enfoncer dans les neiges, ne firent que fix
lieues la premiere iournee, & encor auec bien de la
peine : car jacoit que les raquettes f oient vn f oulage-

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 17

[27] CHAPTER III.

OF THE BLESSED DEATHS OF FATHER ANNE DE NOUE
AND FATHER ENEMOND MASSE.

SINCE in the preceding Chapter we have men-
tioned the death of Father de Noiie, we will
here speak of it more at length ; and at the
same time, of that of Father Masse, which occurred
in this same year. One of the great favors which
God has granted to the holy Apostles and the blessed
Martyrs has been to place them within the oppor-
tunities— and, as it were, under the happy [28]
necessity — of bold action and of great suffering for
their Master. The two Fathers of whom I am about
to speak, seem to have shared in this blessing.

On the 30th of January in this present year, 1646,
Father Anne de Noiie left the residence at three Riv-
ers, in the company of two soldiers and one Huron,
to go away to Richelieu, twelve leagues distant from
three Rivers, in order to say Mass, and to adminis-
ter the Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist to
the French who are there. All the rivers and all the
lakes were but one expanse of ice, and the earth was
everywhere covered with three or four feet of snow,
as is usual during the winter. This good Father
and his companions, walking on snowshoes so as
not to sink into the snows, made only six leagues
the first day, and even that with much difficulty:
for although the snowshoes are a relief, they are

18 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

ment, elles ne laiffent pas d'eftre comme des entraues
a ceux qui n'en ont pas vn fi grand vfage.

lis fe baftirent vne petite maifon dans la neige,
abriee des arbres & couuerte du Ciel, pour paffer la
nuidt. Le Pere ayant remarqu6 que les deux foldats
qui l'accompagnoient [29] pour eftre nouueaux dans
le pais, auoient bien de la peine de marcher auec des
pieds bridez, & de traifner encor auec cela tout leur
bagage apres eux, fe leue enuiron les deux heures
apres minuit pour gagner le deuant & donner aduis
aux foldats de Richelieu de venir fecourir leurs cama-
rades. Cette charite" luy a oi\6 la vie, heureux
martyre de mourir des mains de la charite ! il quitte
fa compagnie, luy donne aduis de fuiure fes piftes,
l'affeurant qu'on les viendroit bientoft fecourir, il ne
prit ny fon fufil pour battre du feu, ny fa couuerture,
ny autres viures qu'vn peu de pain & cinq ou fix pru-
neaux, qu'on a encor trouue fur luy apres fa mort.
II faut porter en ce pays-cy, les hoftelleries auec foy,
c'eft a dire fon lidt & fes viures, pour la maifon, on
la trouue par tout oil la nuit fe rencontre.

Comme c6t homme de feu marchoit fur les glaces
du Lac faindt Pierre qui fe rencontre entre les trois
Riuieres& Richelieu, n'ayantpour guide que fon bon
Ange & la clarte" de la Lune, le Ciel fe couurit, & les
nuees luy d6robant fon flambeau, fe changerent en
neige, mais fi abondante que les tenebres de la nuit
[30] toufiours affreufes, l'eltoient au double ; on ne
voyoit ny les bords du Lac, ny les Ifles dont il eft
parfeme en quelques endroits. Le pauure Pere n'ay-
ant point de boufole ny de quadran pour fe guider,
s'6gara; il marcha beaucoup & auanca peu. Les
foldats qu'il auoit quittez, fe leuant pour fe mettre en

1640] RELATION OF 1643-46 19

nevertheless somewhat of a hindrance to those who
have no great experience with them.

They built for themselves a little house in the
snow, sheltered by the trees and covered with the
Sky, in which to spend the night. The Father —
having remarked that the two soldiers who accom-
panied him [29] had, on account of being new in the
country, much difficulty in walking with trammeled
feet, and, in addition to that, dragging after them
all their baggage — rose about two hours after mid-
night, in order to gain the start and give notice to
the soldiers at Richelieu to come and aid their com-
rades. This charity took away his life; happy mar-
tyrdom, to die at the hands of charity! He left his
companions, and directed them to follow his trail,
assuring them that relief would soon come to them ;
he took neither his steel for striking fire, nor his cov-
ering, nor other provisions than a little bread and
five or six prunes, which were still found upon him
after his death. It is necessary, in this country, to
carry one's hostelries with one, — that is to say, one's
bed and provisions; as for the house, one finds it
wherever one encounters the night.

While this man of fire was walking on the ice of
Lake saint Pierre, which lies between three Rivers
and Richelieu, having for guide only his good Angel
and the brightness of the Moon, the Sky became
overcast, and the clouds, depriving him of his torch,
were changed into snow. But this was so abundant
that the shades of night, [30] always frightful, were
doubly so, — one saw neither the shores of the Lake,
nor the Islands with which it is in some places
studded. The poor Father, having no compass or
quadrant to guide him, lost his way ; he walked much

20 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

chemin, furent bien eitonnez quand ils ne virent
point les traces ou les veftiges du Pere, la neige qui
eftoit tomb£e de nouueau les auoit d6rob6; ne fca-
chant quelle route tenir, l'vn d'eux qui auoit efte" vne
feule fois a Richelieu, tire vn quadran & fe guide a
peu pr£s fur le rumb ou rayon de vent fur lequel il le
croyoit eftably : ils cheminent tout le iour, fans qu'on
leur vienne au fecours; enfin recrus du trauail, ils
paffent la nuit dans l'lfle de S. Ignace, non pas bien
loin du lieu ou eftoit le Pere, mais ils n'en fcauoient
rien ; le Huron plus fait a ces fatigues que les Fran-
cois, fe reconnoiffant, donne iufques a Richelieu, il
demande fi le Pere n'eft point arriue, on dit que non,
le voila bien eftonne, & le Capitaine de cette place
encor plus, apprenant qu'il eftoit party fi matin pour
faire feulement fix lieues; comme il eftoit nuit, on
attend [3 1 ] au lendemain matin pour enuoyer au deuant
de luy, les foldats de la garnifon courent, ils le cher-
chent du cofte Sud, & il eftoit du cofte du Nord; ils
crient, ils appellent, ils tirent des coups d'arquebufes,
mais en vain, le pauure Pere eftoit bien loin de la;
pour les deux foldats qu'on attendoit, le Huron ayant
dit le lieu ou ils eftoient, furent bien-tolt trouuez &
amenez au fort, tout ce iour fe paffa a courir deca &
dela, a crier, & a chercher, fans rien trouuer

Enfin le 2. iour de Feurier, vn foldat affez adroit
prend deux Hurons de quatre qui fe trouuoient pour
lors en cette habitation, il s'en va chercher le gifte
ou le Pere & fes compagnons auoient paffe leur pre-
miere nuit, l'ayant trouue\ ces Hurons bien verfez a
demefler les piftes cachees fous la neige, fuiuent les
traces du pauure Pere, remarquant les tours & les
deftours qu'il auoit fait, trouuent le lieu ou il auoit

L646] RELATION OF 1645-46 21

and advanced little. The soldiers whom he had left,
on rising to proceed on their journey, were much
astonished when they saw not the tracks or the foot-
prints of the Father; the newly-fallen snow had con-
cealed these. Not knowing which route to take, one
of them who had been only once at Richelieu, draws
forth a quadrant, and guides himself nearly by the
rhumb or line of wind along which he believed it
fixed. They journey the whole day, without assist-
ance reaching them; finally, worn out with toil,
they spend the night on the Island of St. Ignace, not
very far from the place where the Father was, — but
they knew naught of that. The Huron, better quali-
fied for these fatigues than the French, getting his
bearings, reaches Richelieu; he asks if the Father
has not arrived. They say " No; " he is much aston-
ished,— and the Captain of that place still more so,
on learning that he had started so early to make only
six leagues. As it was now night, they wait [31]
till the next morning, to send to meet him. The
soldiers of the garrison run ; they seek him on the
South shore, and he was on the North shore ; they
shout, they call, they fire arquebus shots, but in
vain, — the poor Father was very far from there. As
for the two soldiers whom they were expecting, the
Huron having described the place where they were,
they were soon found and led to the fort. All that
day was spent in running hither and thither, in
shouting, and in seeking, but finding nothing.

Finally, on the 2nd day of February, a clever
soldier takes two Hurons, out of four who happened
to be just then in that settlement ; he goes in search
of the shelter where the Father and his companions
had spent their first night. Having found it, these

22 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

pafT6 la feconde nuit depuis fon depart; c'efloit vn
trou dedans la neige, au fonds duquel il auoit mis
quelques branches de fapin fur lefquelles il auoit pris
fon repos, fans feu, fans maifon, fans couuerture,
n'ayant qu'vne fimple fotanne [32] & vne vieille
camifolle. Comme ce lieu n'eft pas bien frequente
des Francois, le Pere ne s'y put reconnoiftre, de la
il trauerfe la riuiere deuant l'habitation de Richelieu
qu'il n'apperceut point, foit qu'il neigeaft fort, ou
que le trauail & les neiges luy euffent affoibly la
veue. Ce foldat fuiuant toufiours les piftes que les
Hurons decouuroient, vid au Cap nomine" de maffacre
a vne lieue plus haut que Richelieu, vn endroit ou ce
bon Pere s'eftoit repofe, & trois lieues plus haut vis
a vis de rifle platte & la terre-ferme, entre deux pe-
tits ruiffeaux, ils trouuerent fon corps a genoux tout
roide & engele fur la terre qu'il auoit decouuerte, en
ayant vuide la neige en rond ou en cercle, fon cha-
peau & fes raquettes eftoient aupres de luy, il eftoit
panche fur le bord de la neige releu^e : il eft croyable
qu'ayant expire a genoux, le poids de fon corps l'auoit
fait pancher fur cette muraille de neige, il auoit les
yeux ouuerts regardant vers le Ciel le lieu de fa
demeure, & les bras en croix fur la poitrine.

Le foldat le voyant en cette pofture, touche d'vn
faindt refpecl;, fe iette a genoux, fait fa priere a Dieu,
honore ce facre depoft, [33] entaille vne croix fur
l'arbre le plus proche, enueloppe ce corps tout roide
& tout glace das vne couuerture qu'il auoit portee, le
met fur vne traifne & le conduit a Richelieu, & de la
aux trois Riuieres: il croit qu'il rendit Tame le iour
de la Purification de la Vierge, a laquelle il auoit
vne deuotion tres-particuliere. II ieufnoit tons les

1646] RELATION OF 1645- 4& 23

Hurons, well trained in distinguishing trails hidden
beneath the snow, follow the poor Father's tracks,
observing the turns and windings that he had made,
and find the place where he had spent the second
night after his departure. This was a cavity in the
snow, at the bottom of which he had put some
branches of fir, upon which he had taken his rest, —
without fire, without a house, without covering: hav-
ing only a single cassock [32] and an old jacket. As
this place is not much frequented by the French, the
Father could not ascertain where he was. Thence
he crossed the river, in front of the settlement
at Richelieu, which he did not perceive, — either
because it snowed very hard, or because toil and the
snows had weakened his sight. The soldier, con-
tinually following the trail which the Hurons uncov-
ered, saw at the Cape called " massacre," a league
above Richelieu,1 a place where this good Father had
rested; and three leagues higher, facing flat Island
and the mainland, between two little brooks, they
found his body on its knees, quite stiff and frozen
upon the ground which he had laid bare, having
cleared away the snow in a ring or circle ; his hat
and his snowshoes were near him; he was leaning
over the edge of the heaped-up snow. It is probable
that, having expired on his knees, the weight of his
body had caused him to lean upon this wall of snow ;
he had his eyes open, — looking toward Heaven, the
place of his dwelling, — -and his arms crossed on his
breast.

The soldier, seeing him in that posture, touched
with a devout respect, falls on his knees, makes his
prayer to God, and honors this sacred trust. [33]
He notches a cross on the nearest tree ; wraps the

24 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

Samedis en fon honeur, recitoit tous les iours vn petit
office pour honorer fon immacul6e Conception, il ne
parloit d'elle qu'auec vn langage tout de cceur: il eft
croyable que cette grande & tres-fidelle MaiftrefTe luy
a obtenu cette mort fi purifiante, ii faindte & fi eloi-
gnee de tous les fecours de la terre, pour le receuoir
plus hautement au Ciel.

Les foldats de Richelieu & les habitans des trois
Riuieres, ne fcauoient a qui donner leur cceur, ou a
l'admiration d'vne fi heureufe mort, ou a la trifteffe,
fe voyans priuez d'vn homme qui eftoit tout aux autres
& rien a foy. II fut enterre auec le concours de tous
les Francois & de tous les Sauuages qui eftoient aux
trois Riuieres. Quelques ames vlcer6es ne purent
cacher plus long-temps leurs playes a la veue de ces
faindtes depoiiilles, ils fe vinrent [34] confeffer au
pluftoft, difans qu'il leur fembloit que ce bon Pere
les en preffoit; d'autres ne pouuoient prier pour luy,
mais bien fe recommander a fes prieres.

En vn mot cette belle mort eft le terme d'vne
faindte vie: ce bon Pere eftoit fils d'vn honnefte
Gentil-homme Seigneur de Villers en Priere, ou pour
mieux dire, en Prairie, qui eft vn Chafteau & vn vil-
lage ou vn bourg diftant fix ou fept lieue's de la ville
de Rheims en Champagne ; En fa ieuneffe il fut fait
Page, & fe trouuant en la Cour il fut follicite- par des
courtifanes pour fa beautd, mais fa bonne MaiftrefTe
le conTerua vierge trente ans dans le monde, & trente-
trois ans en Religion ; il eftoit rude & f euere en fon
endroit, tout de cceur pour les autres ; les chofes les
plus baffes & les plus viles luy eftoient grandes &
releuees, & tout ce qui eft dans l'dclat luy fembloit
remply de tenebres : il a trauaille feize ans en la

1646] RELATION OF 1645- 46 25

body, all stiff and frozen, in a blanket which he had
brought; puts it on a sledge; and conveys it to
Richelieu, and thence to three Rivers. He believes
that he gave up his soul on the day of the Purifica-
tion of the Virgin, for whom he had a most special
devotion. He fasted every Saturday in her honor,
recited every day a brief office to honor her immacu-
late Conception, and spoke of her only in wholly
affectionate terms. It is credible that this great and
most faithful Mistress obtained for him that death, —
so purifying, so saintly, and so removed from all
earthly helps, — in order to receive him on a higher
plane in Heaven.

The soldiers of Richelieu and the people of three
Rivers knew not whether they should give their
hearts to the admiration of so happy a death, or to
sorrow at seeing themselves deprived of a man who
was all for others and nothing for himself. He was
buried with the attendance of all the French and all
the Savages who were at three Rivers. Some ulcer-
ated souls could no longer conceal their sores at the
sight of those blessed remains; they came [34] to
confession as soon as possible, saying that it seemed
to them that this good Father was urging them to
it; others were not able to pray for him, but could
indeed commend themselves to his prayers.

In a word, this glorious death is the end of a
holy life. This good Father was the son of a
worthy Gentleman, Seignior of Villers en Priere, —
or rather, en Prairie, — which is a Castle and a vil-
lage, or a market town, distant six or seven leagues
from the city of Rheims in Champagne. In his
youth he was made a Page, and, finding himself at
Court, he was solicited by courtesans on account of

26 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.29

Million de la nouuelle France toufiours auec courage,
tou jours auec ferueur, & toufiours dans vne profonde
humility. Comme il vid que fa memoire ne luy
permettoit pas d'apprendre les langues, il fe donna &
dedia tout entierement au feruice des pauures Sau-
uages [35] & de ceux qui les inftruifoient, s'abbaiffant
auec vne ardeur nompareille aux offices les plus
rudes & les plus raualez. Nos Francois & nos Peres
s'eftans rencontrez certain temps dans vne grande
neceffite de viures, il alloit chercher des racines par
les bois : il apprit 11 bien a pef cher qu'il foulageoit
toute vne maifon par fon trauail, autant innocent que
charitable.

II eftoit extremement delicat en l'obei'ffance, quel-
que empreffement qu'il eut dans les affaires occur-
rentes, quelque difficulte qui fe prefentaft a fes yeux,
il eftoit preft de tout quitter & de tout embraffer a la
voix de fon Superieur, fans examiner fon pouuoir ou
fon induftrie, delirant que la feule volote de Dieu
donnaft le branle a fes actions, rebutant ie ne fcay
quelle prudence qui a force d'ouurir les yeux aux rai-
fons trop humaines, les ferme a la beaute de l'obeif-
fance, que s'il choquoit tant foit peu cette vertu, on
luy voyoit a l'age de foixante ans, des larmes & des
tendreffes d'vn ieune enfant, qui auroit defagree en
quelque cliofe a fon pere.

Quelqu'vn le voyant entrer dans la caducite, [36]
luy propofa de retourner en France pour y paffer plus
doucement fa vieilleffe: Ie fcay bien, repartit-il, que
la Minion eft charged & que ie tiens la place d'vn bon
ouurier, ie fuis preft de la foulager & d'obeir en tout;
mais ie ferois bien aife de mourir dans le champ de
bataille: ce n'eft pas que ie n'approuue la charite de

1 646] RELA TION OF 1645 - 46 27

his beauty ; but bis good Mistress kept him chaste
for thirty years in the world, and thirty-three years
in Religion. He was harsh and severe toward
himself, but full of affection for others ; things the
lowest and most vile were great and lofty to him ;
and all that there is in splendor seemed to him filled
with darkness. He toiled sixteen years in the
Mission of new France, always with courage, always
with fervor, and always in deep humility. When he
saw that his memory did not allow him to learn
languages, he gave and dedicated himself entirely to
the service of the poor Savages [35] and of those
who instructed them, — lowering himself, with an
ardor unparalleled, to the hardest and most humiliat-
ing offices. Our French and our Fathers having
chanced to be, at a certain time, in great necessity
for provisions, he went to seek roots in the woods ;
and he learned to fish so well that he relieved a
whole house by his toil, as innocent as charitable.

He was extremely sensitive in regard to obedi-
ence. Whatever urgency he had in the affairs at
hand, whatever difficulty presented itself to his
sight, he was ready to leave everything or to em-
brace everything at the voice of his Superior, with-
out examining his own power or his own skill, —
desiring that only the will of God should give the
impulse to his actions, and rejecting that indefinable
prudence which, by dint of opening the eyes to argu-
ments too human, closes them to the beauty of obedi-
ence. Accordingly, if he offended this virtue, even
in the least, one saw in him, at the age of sixty
years, the tears and tenderness of a young child who
had in some manner displeased his father.

Some one, seeing him begin to grow infirm, [36]

28 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.29

ceux qui fe voyans infirmes ou trop agez pour appren-
dre a parler Sauuage, font place a quelque bon
ouurier Euangelique. Mais pour moy ie fens cette
inclination d'employer icy ma vie au feruice des
pauures Sauuages, & de ceux qui les couertiffent, &
au fecours que ie peux rendre aux Francois. Cette
benedidtion luy a efte accordee, le defir de fouffrir a
fait de fon corps vne vidtime, l'obeiffance l'a egorge,
& la charite en a fait vn holocaufte qu'elle a brule &
confomme en l'honneur de fon Dieu, qui feul auec fes
Anges fut fpedtateur de ce grand facrifice ; A tant du
Pere de Noiie.

Pour le Pere Enemond Maffe, il eftoit natif de la
ville de Lion; il entra en noftre Compagnie a 1' age
de vingt ans, il y a trauaille cinquante-deux, en fuite
def quels il eft mort le douziefme de May de [37] cette
prefente annee, en la refidence de S. Iofeph, age de
72. ans. II s'eft trouue dans vne grande variete de
temps & d'occupations bien differences, mais rien n'a
paru dans le cours de fa vie, que l'ardeur qu'il auoit
de fouffrir dans les Millions eftrangeres : c'eft ce defir
qui le fit entrer en noftre Compagnie ; ayant receu les
Ordres facrez, on le donna pour compagnon au R. P.
Pierre Coton, Confeffeur pour lors & Predicateur du
Roy Henry le Grand Le zele de conuertir les Sau-
uages luy faifoit preferer leurs grandes forefts a l'air
de la Cour, il preffa auec tant d' amour qu'enfin il fut
enuoye en l'Acadie, auec le P. Pierre Biart. lis
s'embarquerent a Dieppe l'an 161 1. & furent les deux
premiers de tous les Ordres Religieux qui entrerent
dans cette partie de l'Amerique, qui porte le nom de
la Nouuelle France. II n'eft pas croyable combien ces

1646] RELA T10N OF 1645 -46 29

proposed to him to return to France, that he might
there spend his old age more comfortably. " I know
well," he answered, " that the Mission is burdened,
and that I hold the place of a good workman. I am
ready to relieve it, and to obey in everything ; but I
would be very glad to die in the field of battle. It
is not that I do not approve the charity of those who,
seeing themselves infirm, or too old to learn to speak
the Savage tongue, make place for some good Gospel
laborer; but, as for myself, I feel this inclination,
to employ my life here in the service of the poor
Savages and of those who are converting them, and
in the aid that I can render to the French." This
blessing was granted to him ; the desire to suffer has
made a victim of his body ; obedience has slain him,
and charity has made of him a sacrifice which it has
burned and consumed in the honor of his God, who
alone, with his Angels, was spectator of this great
offering. So much for Father de Noiie.

As for Father Enemond Masse, he was a native of
the city of Lion, and entered our Society at the age
of twenty years. He toiled therein fifty-two years,
at the end of which time he died, on the twelfth of
May in [37] this present year, at the residence of St.
Joseph, aged 72 years. He lived in a great variety
of times, and in very different occupations; but
nothing has appeared in the course of his life save
the ardor that he had for suffering in foreign Mis-
sions,— it was this desire that caused him to enter
our Society. Having received sacred Orders, he
was appointed companion to Reverend Father Pierre
Coton, at that time Confessor and Preacher to the
King, Henry the Great. His zeal for converting the
Savages caused him to prefer their great forests to

SO LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.29

deux patmres Peres fouffrirent en ce nouueau monde :
le gland fut quelques mois leur nourriture, ceux qui
les deuoient proteger, les couuroient d'iniures; ils
furent emprifonnez & calomniez par ceux-la mefmes
aufquels ils rendoient tous les deuoirs d'amour & de
charite; [38] l'vn des principaux d'entre ceux qui les
ont naal traitez, mourant par apres fans le fecours
d'aucun Ecclefiaftique, difoit auec regret & auec
douleur, qu'il payoit bien rudement les tourmens
qu'il auoit fait fouffrir a ces pauures Peres.

S'eftans 6cartez de cette habitation, vn pirate An-
glois les prit, & les ayant pillez, les amena dans fon
vaiffeau; ce nauire eftant contraint d'entrer dans vn
port Catholique, fut pris pour vn ecumeur de mer,
les Officiers de la marine y entrent, le vifitent, vne
feule parole de ces deux prifonniers eut fait prendre
le vaiffeau & pendre tous les nautonniers ; mais non
feulement ils ne parlerent point, mais fe cacherent fi
bien qu'ils ne furent iamais apperceus ; quand les vifi-
teurs eftoient d'vn cofte, les Peres fe gliffoiet de
1' autre ; les Heretiques voyant cette adtion s'ecrierent
tout haut qu'ils auroient fait vn grand crime de tuer
ces deux Innocens, comme ils l'auoient penfe faire,
quand la tempefte les ietta dans ce port habite par
des Catholiques.

Au fortir de la, ces pirates fe retirent en Angle-
terre, oil ils furent accufez de quelques vols ; mais
eux ayant efprouue la [39] bonte de leurs prifonniers,
ils les produifirent pour tefmoins, les Peres affeurent
qu'ils n'auoient point veu commettre Taction dont
on les blafmoit.

Enfin ils repafferent en France en 1' equipage de

1646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 31

the air of the Court ; he urged with so much love
that finally he was sent to Acadia, with Father
Pierre Biart. They embarked at Dieppe in the year
161 1, and were the first two, of all the Religious
Orders, to enter that part of America which bears
the name of New France. It is not credible how
much these two poor Fathers suffered in this new
world. Acorns were, for several months, their
food ; those who were bound to protect them covered
them with insults; they were imprisoned and slan-
dered by those very persons to whom they were ren-
dering all the duties of love and charity. [38] One
of the principal among those who treated them ill,
dying afterward without the assistance of any Eccle-
siastic, said, with regret and grief, that he was pay-
ing very severely for the torments that he had caused
these poor Fathers to suffer.

Having removed from that settlement, an English
pirate seized them, and, after plundering them, took
them aboard his vessel. This ship, being compelled
to enter a Catholic port, was taken for a sea-rover;
the Officers of marine boarded and inspected her. A
single word of those two prisoners would have caused
the capture of the vessel, and the hanging of all the
sailors; but not only did they not speak, but they
concealed themselves so well that they were never
perceived. When the visitors were on one side, the
Fathers slipped to the other ; the Heretics, seeing this
action, exclaimed aloud that they would have com-
mitted a great crime in killing those two Innocent
men, as they had thought of doing when the storm
drove them into that port inhabited by Catholics.

On departing thence, those pirates withdrew to Eng-
land, where they were accused of some robberies;

32 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.29

deux pauures gueux tout delabrez, le Pere Enemond
MafTe ayant veu le pays de la Croix & les pauures
Sauuages fans fecours, ne pouuoit viure. Son corps
eftoit en l'ancienne France, & fon cceur en la nou-
uelle ; voyant que les portes luy eftoient ferm6es du
coite" de la terre, il prend le chemin du Ciel, comme
le plus feur en toutes bonnes entreprifes. II appelle
les Croix & les fouffrances de ce nouueau monde fa
Rachel, & dit que pour la rauoir, il s'en va feruir
Dieu auffi fidellement & auffi long-temps que Iacob
feruit Laban, & pour mieux affermir fes refolutions,
il les efcriuit dans vn papier qu'on a veu & leu a fon
deceu. En voicy les principaux articles.

Si Iacob a feruy quatorze ans pour Rachel, a com-
bien plus forte raifon dois-ie feruir nion cher Maiflre
deux fois 7. ans pour la nouuelle France, mon cher
Canadas, embelly d'vne grade variete de Croix tres-
aymables & tres-adorables? vn ft [40] grand bien, vn
fi grand employ, vne vocation ft fublime: en vn mot,
le Canadas & fes delices qui font la Croix, ne fe
peuuent obtenir que par des difpofitions conformes a
la Croix, c'eft pourquoy il fe faut refoudre a garder
inuiolablement ce qui fuit,

1. Iamais ne coucher que fur la dure, c'eft a dire
fans draps, fans mattelas, fans paillaffe, il en faut
neantmoins auoir en fa chambre pour n'eftre veu
que des yeux, aufquels on ne fe peut cacher.

2. Ne porter point de linge, ftnon au col.

3. Ne dire iamais lafaindte Meffe fans eftre reueftu
d'vne haire : ces armes te feront fouuenir de la Paffion
de ton Maiftre, dont ce Sacrifice eft le grand me-
morial.

1646] RELATION OF 164J -46 33

but having experienced the [39] magnanimity of
their prisoners, they produced them as witnesses;
the Fathers gave assurance that they had not seen the
act committed with which their captors were charged.

Finally, they crossed over to France in the plight
of two poor beggars, all in rags. Father Enemond
Masse, having beheld the country of the Cross and
the poor Savages in need of help, could not live ; his
body was in the old France, and his heart in the
new. Seeing that the doors were closed to him on
the side of earth, he takes the way of Heaven, as
the surest in all good enterprises. He calls the
Crosses and sufferings of this new world his Rachel,
and says that, to recover her, he is going away to
serve God as faithfully and as long as Jacob served
Laban ; and, in order better to strengthen his resolu-
tions, he wrote them in a paper which was seen and
read at his death. Here follow its principal articles :

" If Jacob served fourteen years for Rachel, with
how much stronger reason ought I to serve my dear
Master twice 7 years for new France, — my dear
Canadas, embellished with a great variety of most
lovable and adorable Crosses ! So [40] great a bless-
ing, so lofty an employ, so sublime a vocation, — in
a word, Canadas and its delights, which are the
Cross, — can be obtained only through a frame of
mind conformed to the Cross. For this reason, one
must resolve to observe inviolably that which follows :
" 1 . Never to lie down except on the bare ground, —
that is, without sheets, without mattress, without
straw bed ; one nevertheless must have some of these
in his room, that he may be seen only by the eyes
from which one cannot hide oneself.
"2. To wear no linen, save about the neck.

34 LES RELATIONS DES JESU/TES [Vol.29

4. Prendre tous les iours la difcipline.

5. Toutes les fois que tu difneras fans auoir fait au
prealable ton examen de confcience, quelque empef-
chement d'affaires que tu ayes, tu ne mangeras qu'vn
deflert comme on peut faire a la collation 6s iours de
ieufnes.

6. Tu ne donneras iamais a ton gouft ce qu'il ap-
peteroit par delices.

[41] 7. Tu ieufneras trois fois la femaine fans que
perfonne s'en appercoiue, fmon celuy qui en doit
auoir connoiff ance ; comme tu ne prends ordinaire-
ment ton repas qu'a la feconde table, tu peux facile-
ment cacher ces petites mortifications.
8. Si tu laiffes fortir de ta bouche quelque parole
qui choque tant foit peu la charite, tu ramafferas
fecrettement auec ta langue les crachas & les flegmes
fortis de la bouche d'autruy.

Voila les brebis que gardoit ce Iacob pour efpoufer
la belle Rachel, voila la monnoye auec laquelle il a
achept6 les Croix de la nouuelle France ; Dieu ne
put refifier a tant de defirs, ny £conduire vne 11 fidelle
perfeuerance, il fut renuoye en Canadas 1'an 1625. il
y trouua fa Rachel, c'eft a dire les Croix en abon-
dance, les vaiffeaux manquans de venir, la famine
accueillit les Francois qui eftoient en ce pays cy.
C'eft en ce temps-la que le Pere Enemond MafTe &
le Pere Anne de Noiie fon compagnon cherchoient
des racines pour conferuer leur vie, & qu'ils fe firent
l'vn Iardinier & Laboureur, & 1' autre Pefcheur &
Bucheron, pour pouuoir [42] fubfiiter en ce bout du
monde, ou les ames ont coufte auffi cher a Iesvs-
Christ, que les ames des Princes & des Monarques.

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 35

"3. Never to say holy Mass without being clad
in a hair shirt; that armor will make thee re-
member the Passion of thy Master, of whom this
Sacrifice is the great memorial.
"4. To take the discipline every day.
"5. Whenever thou shalt dine without having pre-
viously made thine examination of conscience, no
matter how circumstances may hinder thee, thou shalt
eat only a dessert, as one may do at the collation on
days of fasting.

"6. Thou shalt never give to thy taste that which
it might crave as a delight.

[41] "7. Thou shalt fast three times in the week,
but so that none may perceive it save that one who
must have knowledge thereof. As thou usually
takest thy meal only at the second table, thou canst
easily conceal these little mortifications.
"8. If thou suffer to issue from thy lips any word
which offends charity, however little, thou shalt
gather up secretly with thy tongue the spittle and
phlegm proceeding from the mouths of others."

Behold the sheep which this Jacob tended in order
to espouse the beautiful Rachel ; such was the money
with which he bought the Crosses of new France.
God could not resist so many desires, nor deny so
faithful a perseverance ; he was sent back to Canadas
in the year 1625. He found there his Rachel, — that
is to say, Crosses in abundance; the vessels failing
to come, famine assailed the French who were in
this country. It was then that Father Enemond
Masse and Father Anne de Noue, his companion,
sought roots to preserve their lives ; and that they
made themselves, the one a Gardener and Plough-
man, and the other, Fisherman and Woodcutter, in

36 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

La fin de cette Croix fut le commencement d'vne
autre. Vn Francois Anglif6 ayant pris Kebec fit
repaffer ce pauure Pere en France; que fera-il? tous
ces rebuts feront-ils pas capables de luy ofter la pen-
f£e & l'amour d'vne Rachel qui luy auoit paru ft belle
& qui effort fi laide, fi difforme, & fi affreufe? Les
yeux & les efprits des hommes font bien differents :
ce que l'vn appelle grandeur, l'autre l'appelle baf-
feff e : ces rigueurs eftoient la douceur & la beaute"
de fa Rachel ; le poltron f uit fentant les coups, & le
bon foldat s'anime a la veue de fon fang.

Ce pauure Pere fe tenant comme vn banny dans
fon pays natal, fait vne promeffe & vn vceu a Dieu
tout folemnel de faire tous fes efforts pour mourir en
la Croix de la nouuelle France. Dieu efc le plus
grand guerrier du monde, l'amour neantmoins & la
perfeuerance le defarment, le Pere emporta ce qu'il
demandoit, il rentre dans fon pays de benedidtion
Pan 1633. il y meurt Tan 1646. tout [43] charge1
d'ans & de merites au milieu des Sauuages, au falut
defquels il auoit confacre toute fa vie & tous fes
trauaux; il receut tous les Sacremens de l'Eglife,
& donna des preuues a fa mort de la tendreffe qu'il
auoit pour fa faindte Maiftreff e : car ne pouuant pour
fon extreme debilite ny parler, ny ouurir les yeux,
ny fe mouuoir qu'auec de grandes peines, fi toft
qu'on luy parloit de la faindte Vierge ou de fon cher
Epoux S. Iofeph, il donnoit des indices que cela luy
agreoit extremement, priant qu'on luy donnaft fou-
uent cette douce nourriture, & ce reftaurant qui le
faifoit viure.

Ceux qui l'ont connu plus particulierement, ont

1

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 37

order to be able [42] to subsist in this end of the
world, where the souls have cost Jesus Christ as
dear as the souls of Princes and Monarchs.

The end of that Cross was the beginning of
another; an Anglicized Frenchman, having taken
Kebec, sent this poor Father back to France. What
will he do? Can all these rebuffs take from him the
thought and the love of a Rachel who had appeared
to him so beautiful, but who was so ugly, so
deformed, and so frightful? The eyes and minds of
men are very different, — what one calls grandeur,
another calls baseness; these rigors were the soft-
ness and beauty of his Rachel. The coward flees on
feeling the blows, and the good soldier is inspirited
at the sight of his own blood.

This poor Father, regarding himself as an exile in
his native land, makes to God a promise and a most
solemn vow, that he will exert every effort to die on
the Cross of new France. God is the greatest
warrior in the world; nevertheless, love and perse-
verance disarm him. The Father gained what he
asked, — he returns to his land of blessing in the
year 1633; he dies there in the year 1646, all [43]
laden with years and merits in the midst of the
Savages, to whose salvation he had consecrated his
whole life and all his labors. He received all
the Sacraments of the Church, and, at his death,
gave proofs of the tenderness which he had for his
blessed Mistress; for, — unable, through his extreme
debility, either to speak or to open his eyes, or to
stir except with great pains, — as soon as they spoke
to him of the blessed Virgin, or of her dear Spouse
St. Joseph, he made signs that that pleased him
extremely, begging that they should often give him

38 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

remarque" en luy deux ou trois chofes fort notables :
il auoit vn naturel vif, prompt, & ardent; ce luy fut
vn exercice de vertu tout le cours de fa vie ; cette
ardeur donoit vn feu & vne promptitude admirable
a fon obei'fTance & a fa charite\ & les cheutes qu'il
faifoit par fragility, engendroient dans fon ame vne
profonde humilite" & vn fi grand m6pris de foy-
mefme, qu'il fe reputoit moins qu'vn chien, quand la
nature luy faifoit faire quelque faillie. II naquit
auec l'amour de [44] la mortification: car des fa
petite ieuneffe il faifoit du mal a fon corps, notam-
ment quand quelque petit bouillon de cholere vouloit
^chauffer fon cceur.

Ayant oiiy parler des trauaux du grand faindt Fran-
cois Xauier dans les Indes, il eut quelque penfee de
r£pandre fon fang, ou du moins d'employer fa vie en
quelque pays eftranger pour le falut des ames. Cette
penfee fe change en defir, ce defir en refolution, cette
refolution croiffant auec l'age, luy fit demander l'en-
tree en noftre Compagnie, en laquelle il fut admis;
mais comme il auoit la veue extremement foible, on
parla de le renuoyer de la maif on de probation : cela
l'epouuente, il a recours a fa faindte Mere, la coniure
auec vne fimplicite d'enfant de luy donner vne mar-
que de la volonte" qu'elle a de fa perfeuerance en la
Compagnie, il prie auec ardeur, prend vn Liure, l'ou-
ure, lit fans difficulte les plus petits caracteres; cela
le confole & le furprend, & efface de l'efprit de fes
Superieurs la penfee de le reuoyer. Comme c'efl
l'vne des efpreuues que noftre Compagnie prend de
ceux qui s'y veulent enrooller, de les enuoyer en
quelques pelerinages demandans l'aumofne, [45] le

1646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 39

that sweet nourishment, and that restorative which
made him live.

Those who knew him most intimately remarked
in him two or three very notable characteristics.
He had a vivacious, ready, and ardent nature, which
was to him an exercise in virtue all the course of his
life. This ardor gave a fire and an admirable
promptness to his obedience and his charity; and
the falls that he incurred through frailty engendered
in his soul a profound humility, and so great a con-
tempt for himself that he esteemed himself less than
a dog, when nature caused him to commit some fail-
ing. He was born with the love of [44] mortifica-
tion ; for, from his early youth, he treated his body
harshly — especially when some little ebullition of
anger would vex his heart.

Having heard mention of the labors of the great
saint Francois Xavier in the Indies, he had some
thought of shedding his blood, or at least employing
his life, in some foreign country for the salvation of
souls. This thought becomes changed into desire,
this desire into resolution ; this resolution, increasing
with age, causes him to ask admission into our
Society, into which he was received ; but, as his sight
was extremely feeble, there was talk of sending him
back from the house of probation. That terrifies
him ; he has recourse to his blessed Mother, and en-
treats her with the simplicity of a child to give him
a sign of her will that he should remain in the So-
ciety. He prays with ardor; he takes a Book, opens
it, and reads without difficulty the smallest charac-
ters; that consoles and surprises him, and effaces
from the minds of his Superiors the thought of send-
ing him away. As it is one of the tests which our

40 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

bon Enemond Made y flit enuoye* auffi bien que les
autres, auec les defirs du mepris & des peines qui
accompagnent cette efpreuue. Or il luy arriua dans
fon pelerinage qu'vn Ecclefiaftique de piete & de
condition le receut & fes compagnons auffi, auec des
tefmoignages d'vn refpect & d'vn amour extraor-
dinaire: luy qui ne cherchoit que le mepris & la
Croix fut d'abord faifi de crainte, s'imaginant que les
rebuts du monde deuoiet eftre la marque de l'vnion
qu'il vouloit auoir auec Dieu, il rentre dans fa fim-
plicite ordinaire, a recours a la faindte Vierge, la
coniure de changer les careffes de cet honnefte
homme en des froideurs, & fa charite en des rebuts,
& qu'il prendroit ce changement pour vn figne de fa
perfeuerance en la compagnie de fon Fils: cette
priere peut-eftre moins difcrete & moins reglee
qu'innocente, fut oiiye de la fain(5te Vierge: les pa-
roles tariffent en la bouche de cet homme, fon feu
fe change en glace, il renuoye ces pelerins par
procureur fans leur ietter aucun regard. Depuis ce
temps ce bon Nouice fe tint affeure de fa perfeue-
rance au feruice de fon Seigneur & de fa bonne
Maiftreffe, laquelle luy a fait vn [46] prefent tres-
particulier & tres-rare de la purete\ Les Peres qui
l'ont frequente" & communique plus intimement,
affeurent que iamais il n'a reffenty aucune rebellion
en la chair. Ceux qui combattent & qui domtent cet
aiguillon, come S. Paul, ne font pas moindres, mais
il faut auoiier que c'eft vne grande douceur d' eftre
deliure" de 1'importunite de ces mouches d'Enfer.

Si fa purete" fut grande, fa charite ne fut pas moin-
dre: elle le fit fcieur d'aix & charpentier de nauire,

1646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 41

Society makes of those who wish to be enrolled in
it, to send them on certain pilgrimages, asking alms,
[45] the good Enemond Masse, as well as the others,
was sent out thus, with desires for the contempt and
the hardships which accompany that probation.
Now it happened to him, in his pilgrimage, that an
Ecclesiastic of piety and rank received him, and his
companions also, with manifestations of extraordinary
respect and love ; he, who sought only contempt and
the Cross, was at first seized with dread, — imagining
that the rebuffs of the world must be the mark of the
union with God which he wished to have. He
resumes his usual simplicity, has recourse to the
blessed Virgin, and entreats her to change this man's
kindness into coldness, and his charity into repul-
sion— and that he would take this change for a sign
of his continuance in the society of her Son. This
prayer — perhaps less discreet and less conformable
to rule than innocent — was heard by the blessed
Virgin; the words dry up in that man!s mouth, his
fire is changed to ice, — he sends these pilgrims away
by his agent, without casting a glance at them.
From that time this good Novice held himself assured
of his continuance in the service of his Lord and of
his good Mistress, who made him a [46] present most
special and most rare, that of purity. The Fathers
who most intimately visited and conversed with him
affirm that he never experienced any rebellion in the
flesh. Those who combat and subdue this sting, like
St. Paul, are not inferior; but it must be acknowl-
edged that it is a great privilege to be delivered
from the annoyance of those flies of Hell.

If his purity was great, his charity was not less; it
made him a wood-sawyer and ship's carpenter, along

42 LES RELA TIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol. 29

auec le Pere Biart fon compagnon, ils firent des plan-
ches & baitirent vne chaloupe ou vn batteau pour
aller pefcher de la molue, afin de fecourir l'habita-
tion ou ils eftoient preflez d'vne extreme neceflite\
Ce bon Pere a fait toute forte de meftiers, mais no-
tamment celuy auec lequel on gagne le Paradis : il a
fi bien couru qu'il a emporte" le prix ou la couronne,
il a nauige fi heureufement, qu'il eft enfin arriue-
mal-gre toutes les tempeftes, au port d'vne glorieufe
eternite\

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 43

with Father Biart, his companion. They made
planks and built a shallop or boat, in order to go fish-
ing for cod, so as to succor the settlement in which
they were, which was under the pressure of extreme
necessity. This good Father plied all sorts of trades,
but especially that by which one gains Paradise ; he
has run so well that he has carried off the prize or
the crown ; he has navigated so prosperously that he
has at last arrived, in spite of all the storms, at the
port of a glorious eternity.

44 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

[47] CHAPITRE IV.

DE LA MISSION DES MARTYRS COMMENCEE AU PAYS

DES IROQUOIS.

QVAND ie parle d'vne Miffion aux Iroquois, il
me femble que ie parle d'vn fonge, & neant-
moins c'eft vne verite: c'eft a bon droit qu'on
luy fait porter le nom des Martyrs: car outre les
cruautez que ces Barbares ont defia fait fouffrir a
quelques perfonnes amoureufes du falut des ames,
outre les peines & les fatigues que ceux qui font
deftinez a cette Miffion doiuent encourir, nous pou-
uons dire auec verit6 qu'elle a defia efte" empourpree
du fang d'vn Martyr: car le Fracois qui fut tue aux
pieds du Pere Ifaac Iogues, perdit la vie pour auoir
fait exprimer le figne de noftre creance a quelques
petits enfans Iroquois : ce qui choqua tellement leurs
parens, que s'imaginant qu'il y pouuoit auoir quelque
fort dans cette action, ils en firent vn crime & vn
martyre tout enfemble.

[48] Adiouftez que s'il eft permis de coniecfturer en
des chofes qui donnent de grandes apparences, il eft
croyable (fi cette entreprife reiiffit) que les deifeins
que nous auons contre 1' empire de Satan pour le falut
de ces peuples, ne porteront point leurs fruidts qu'ils
ne foient arroufez du fang de quelques autres Mar-
tyrs. Le deffein toutesfois principal de cette deno-
mination, eft que cette Miffion foit affift£e du credit

1646] RELA TION OF 164J-46 45

[47] CHAPTER IV.

OF THE MISSION OF THE MARTYRS, BEGUN IN THE
COUNTRY OF THE IROQUOIS.

WHEN I speak of a Mission among the Iro-
quois, it seems to me that I speak of a
dream, and yet it is a truth. It is with good
right that it is made to bear the name of the
Martyrs; for — besides the cruelties which those
Barbarians have already inflicted upon some persons
impassioned for the salvation of souls; besides the
pains and fatigues which those who are destined to
this Mission are bound to incur — we may say with
truth that it has already been crimsoned with the
blood of one Martyr; for the Frenchman who was
slain at the feet of Father Isaac Jogues lost his life
for having expressed the sign of our creed to some
little Iroquois children, which so greatly offended
their parents that they — imagining that there might
be some spell in this action — made of it at once a
crime and a martyrdom.

[48] Add this, that — if it be permitted to conjec-
ture, in things which indicate great probabilities —
it is credible (if this enterprise succeed) that the
designs which we have against the empire of Satan,
for the salvation of these peoples, will not yield
their fruits before they be sprinkled with the blood
of some other Martyrs. Nevertheless, the principal
design of this denomination is that this Mission may
be assisted with the influence and favor of those

46 LES RELATIONS DES JESUJTES [Vol.29

& faueur de ces faindtes & facr6es vidtimes qui ont
l'honneur d'approcher de plus pr6s l'Agneau & de
le fuiure par tout : mais entrons en difcours.

Monfleur noftre Gouuerneur ayant refolu d'en-
uoyer deux Francois au pays des Annierronnons,
pour leur porter fa parole & pour leur tefmoigner fa
ioye & fon contentement fur la paix heureufement
conclue. Le Pere Ifaac Iogues luy fut prefente pour
eftre de la partie, comme il auoit defia achete la con-
noifTance de ces peuples & de leur langue auec vne
monnoye plus precieufe que l'or & que Target, il fut
bien-toft accepte, les Iroquois l'agr£eret, & luy qui
auoit fouftenu le poids de la guerre, n'eftoitpas pour
reculer dans la paix. II fut bien aife de fonder leur
amitie, [49] apres auoir 6prouu6 la rage de leur
inimitie: il n'ignoroit pas neantmoins rinconflance
de ces Barbares, la difficult^ des chemins luy eftoit
prefente, comme a vn homme qui l'auoit experimen-
ted, il voyoit les dangers oil il f e iettoit : mais qui
ne rifque iamais pour Dieu, ne fera iamais gros
marchand des richeifes du Ciel. II fut pluftoft preft
qu'on ne luy eut fait la propofition. Monfieur le
Gouuerneur iugea a propos d'enuoyer de plus le fieur
Bourdon habitant du pays, qui monftra d'autant plus
de courage pour le bien public, qu'il abandonna fa
famille, pour fe ietter dans des hazards qui ne font
iamais petits parmy ces Barbares.

Les Algonquins voyant qu'vn Pere s'embarquoit,
luy donnent aduis de ne point parler de la Foy de
prime-abord : car il n'y a rien, difoient-ils, de fi rebu-
tant au commencement que noftre dodtrine, qui fem-
ble exterminer tout ce que les hommes ont de plus

1646J RELA TION OF 1643-46 47

blessed and consecrated victims who have the honor
to approach nearest to the Lamb, and to follow him
everywhere. But let us begin the discourse.

Monsieur our Governor having resolved to send
two Frenchmen to the country of the Annierron-
nons, — in order to convey to them his word, and to
betoken to them his joy and satisfaction over the peace
happily concluded, — Father Isaac Jogues was pre-
sented to him, to be of the party. As he had already
purchased an acquaintance with these peoples and
their language, with a coin more precious than gold
or silver, he was soon accepted ; the Iroquois welcomed
him, and he who had sustained the weight of war,
was not for retreating in time of peace. He was very
glad to sound their friendship, [49] after having
experienced the rage of their enmity. He was not
ignorant, however, of the inconstancy of these
Barbarians; the difficulty of the roads was patent
to him, as a man who had experienced it; he saw the
dangers into which he was throwing himself ; but he
who never risks for God will never be an extensive
dealer in the riches of Heaven. He was ready soon-
er than the proposition was made to him. Monsieur
the Governor thought proper to send, besides, the
sieur Bourdon, a settler in the country, — who showed
his zeal for the public welfare all the more that he
forsook his own family, in order to throw himself
into hazards which are never small among these
Barbarians.

The Algonquins, seeing that a Father was em-
barking, gave him warning not to speak of the Faith
at the very first; " for there is nothing," said they,
" so repulsive at the beginning as our doctrine, which
seems to exterminate everything that men hold most

48 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

cher, & pource que voftre longue robe pr6che auffi
bien que voftre bouche, il feroit a propos de marcher
en habit plus court. Cet aduis fut ecoute\ & Ton
crut qu'il falloit traiter les malades en malades, & fe
comporter parmy [50] les impies comme on fait
parmy les heretiques, qu'il falloit fe faire tout a
tous, pour les gagner tous a Iesvs-Christ.

lis partirent le 16. de May des trois Riuieres, & le
18. veille de la Pentecofte, ils s'embarquerent a
Richelieu fur la riuiere des Iroquois: ils eftoient
conduits par quatre Iroquois Annierronons, deux
ieunes Algonquins les accompagnoiet dans leur canot
particulier charge" des prefens qu'ils alloient faire
pour la confirmation de la paix. Le Saindt Efprit
auquel eft dedi6 le plus grand bourg des Iroquois,
la fefte duquel s'alloit commencer en l'Eglife, au
moment de leur depart, leur donnoit defia vn auant-
gouft du bon-heur de leur voyage.

Ils arriuerent la veille du S. Sacrement au bout du
lac qui eft ioint au grand lac de C[h]amplain. Les
Iroquois le nomment Andiatarodte, comme qui diroit
la ou le lac fe ferme. Le Pere le nomma le lac du
S. Sacrement.

Ils le quitterent le iour de cette grande Fefte,
pourfuiuans leur chemin par terre auec de grandes
fatigues : car il falloit porter fur leur dos leurs pac-
quets & leur bagage, les Algonquins furent contrains
[51] d'en laiffer fur le bord de ce lac vne grande
partie.

A fix lieues de ce lac, ils paff erent vne petite riuiere
que les Iroquois appellent Ologue, les Hollandois
qui font placez deffus, mais plus bas, la nomment
Riuier[e] van Maurice.

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 49

dear ; and, because your long robe preaches as well
as your lips, it would be expedient to walk in shorter
apparel." This warning was heeded, and it was
considered necessary to treat the sick as sick, and to
behave among [50] the impious as one does among
the heretics, — that one must become all things to
all men, in order to gain all to Jesus Christ.

They started on the 16th of May from three
Rivers; and on the 18th, the eve of Pentecost,2 they
embarked at Richelieu on the river of the Iroquois.
They were conducted by four Annierronnon Iro-
quois; two young Algonquins accompanied them, in
their own separate canoe, laden with the gifts which
they were going to make for the confirmation of the
peace. The Holy Ghost, — to whom is dedicated the
largest village of the Iroquois, — whose feast was
about to begin in the Church at the moment of their
departure, gave them even then a foretaste of the
good fortune of their voyage.

They arrived, on the eve of the Blessed Sacra-
ment, at the end of the lake which is joined to the
great lake of Champlain. The Iroquois name it An-
diatarocte\ as if one should say, "there where the
lake is shut in." The Father named it the lake of
the Blessed Sacrament.3

They left it, the day of that great Feast, continu-
ing their way by land with great fatigues, for they
had to carry on their backs their bundles and their
baggage; the Algonquins were obliged [51] to leave
a great part of theirs on the shore of the lake.

Six leagues from this lake, they crossed a small
river which the Iroquois call Oiogue; the Dutch,
who are located along it, but lower down, name it
the River van Maurice.4

50 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

Le premier iour de Iuin, leurs guides accablez fous
leur faix & fous le trauail, quitterent le chemin qui
conduit a leurs bourgs, pour paffer par vn certain
endroit appell6 en leur langue Oflarague' : ce lieu (au
rapport du Pere) eft fort remarquable pour la pefche
d'vn petit poiffon gros comme le harang. lis efpe-
roient trouuer la quelque fecours: en effet on leur
prefta des canots pour porter leur bagage iufques a
la premiere habitation des Hollandois, eVLoignee de
cette pefche d'enuiron dix-huidt ou vingt lieues.

Dieu a vne conduite toute pleine d'amour: fa bonte"
fit faire ce deftour pour donner quelque fecours a la
pauure Therefe, jadis Seminarifle des Vrfulines: ils
la rencontrerent en cet endroit. Le Pere luy rafrai-
chift la memoire de fon deuoir, & la confeffa, auec
vne grande fatisfadtion de fon ame.

[52] Le 4. de Iuin, ils mirent pied a terre a la
premiere habitation des Hollandois, oil ils furent Fort
bien receus par le Capitaine du fort d' Orange: ils en
fortirent le feizieme du mefme mois, accompagnez
& foulagez des Iroquois qui fe trouuerent en ce quar-
tier la. Le lendemain au foir ils arriuerent en leur
premiere bourgade appellee OneugiS're, jadis Offer-
rion. La il fallut demeurer deux iours pour eftre
confiderez & bien-veignez de ces peuples qui venoient
de toutes parts pour les voir : ceux qui auoient autres-
fois maltraite le Pere, n'en faifoient plus aucun
femblant, & ceux que la compaffion naturelle auoit
touchez a la veue de fes tourmens, receuoient vne
ioye fenfible de le voir dans vne autre poflure, & dans
vn employ conilderable.

Le 10. de Iuin, honore par la fefte de la faindte

1646J RELATION OF 7643-46 51

On the first day of June, their guides, overcome by
their burdens and the toil, turned aside from the road
which leads to their villages, in order to pass by a
certain place called in their language Ossaragu6;
this spot (according to the Father's report) is very
remarkable as abounding in a small fish, the size of
the herring. They were hoping to find some assist-
ance there ; and indeed they were loaned some canoes
to carry their baggage as far as the first settlement
of the Dutch, distant from this fishery about eighteen
or twenty leagues.

God has a guidance all full of love : his goodness
caused this detour to be made in order to give some
assistance to the poor Therese, a former Seminarist
of the Ursulines; our party met her at this place.
The Father refreshed her memory concerning her
duty, and heard her confession, to the great satisfac-
tion of her soul.

[52] On the 4th of June, they landed at the first
settlement of the Dutch, where they were Very well
received by the Captain of the fort of Orange ; they
departed thence on the sixteenth of the same month,
accompanied and assisted by the Iroquois who hap-
pened to be in that quarter. The next day, at even-
ing, they arrived at their first small village, called
Oneugioure, formerly Osserrion.5 There it was
necessary to stay two days, in order to be gazed at
and welcomed by those peoples, who came from all
parts to see them ; those who had formerly ill-used the
Father no longer showed any inclination to do so ; and
those whom natural compassion had touched at the
sight of his torments, were evidently delighted to see
him in another position and employed in an impor-
tant office.

52 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

Trinity, il donna ce nom Sacro-faindt a cette bour-
gade. II fe fit a mefme temps vne affembl^e gene-
rale de tous les principaux Capitaines & des anciens
du pays: la furent exhibez les prefens que le fieur
Bourdon portoit auec le Pere : la f e trouuerent auffi
les deux Algonquins qui les accompagnoient.

[53] Le filence fait, le Pere expofe la parole d'O-
nontio & de tous les Francois, marquee par les
prefens, dont i'ay donne 1' explication au Chapitre
precedent : il tefmoigne la ioye qu'on a receue a la
veue des Ambaffadeurs. & le contentement de tout
le monde pour la conclufion de la paix entre les
Francois, les Iroquois, les Hurons & les Algonquins:
il afleure que le feu de confeil eft allume aux trois
Riuieres, il prefente vn collier de 5000. grains de
Porcelaine, pour brifer les liens du petit Francois
captif en leur pais, & autant pour la deliurance de
Therefe : il les remercie de ce qu'ils auoient refufe les
teftes des montagnais ou des Algonquins maffacrez
par les Sokoquiois. II fit en particulier vn prefent de
3000. grains de Porcelaine a l'vne des groffes families
des Annierronnons repandue dans leurs trois bour-
gades, pour tenir vn feu toufiours allume, quand les
Francois les viendroient vifiter.

Sa harangue fut bien ecoutee & fes prefens tres-
bien receus, il parla en fuite pour les Algonquins,
qui n' auoient pas connoiffance de la langue Iroquoife,
& qui eftoient vn peu honteux pour le defaut [54]
d'vne grande partie de leurs prefens: car de 24.
robes de peaux d'Elan, ils en auoiet laiffe 14. en che-
min, comme nous auons remarque, le Pere les excufa
fur la bleffeure de l'vn de ces deux ieunes hommes,

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 53

On the 10th of June, honored by the feast of the
holy Trinity, he gave this Most holy name to that
village. There was held, at the same time, a general
assembly of all the principal Captains and elders of
the country ; there were exhibited the gifts which
the sieur Bourdon brought with the Father ; there
were also present the two Algonquins who accom-
panied them.

[53] Silence procured, the Father sets forth the
word of Onontio and of all the French, betokened by
the gifts of which I have given the explanation in
the preceding Chapter. He indicates the joy that
was caused by the sight of the Ambassadors, and the
satisfaction of all the people at the conclusion of the
peace between the French, the Iroquois, the Hurons,
and the Algonquins. He assures them that the coun-
cil fire is lighted at three Rivers ; he presents a neck-
lace of 5000 Porcelain beads, in order to break the
bonds of the little Frenchman captive in their coun-
try, and the like for the deliverance of Therese ; he
thanks them for having refused the heads of the mon-
tagnais or of the Algonquins massacred by the Soko-
quiois. He made a special present of 3000 Porcelain
beads to one of the great families of the Annierron-
non scattered through their three villages, in order
to keep a fire always lighted when the French should
come to visit them.6

His harangue was favorably heard, and his gifts
very well received. He spoke next for the Algon-
quins, who were not acquainted with the Iroquois
language, and who were somewhat ashamed at the
lack [54] of a great part of their presents; for, of 24
robes of Elk skins, they had left 14 on the way, as
we have remarked. The Father excused them by

64 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

fur la pefanteur du fardeau, & fur la difficult^ des
chemins : il ne laifTa pas de donner le fens de toutes
ces paroles, de fpecifier tous ces prefens, en forte
que l'afTemblee en fut fatisfaite; fi bien que par
apres les Iroquois refpondirent par deux prefens
qu'ils firent aux Algonquins, & en enuoyerent deux
autres aux Hurons.

Pour ce qui concernoit Onontio & les Francois, en
faueur defquels ils auoient fait la paix auec leurs
alliez, ils refpondirent auec plus de pompe & auec vn
grand tefmoignage d'affedtion.

A la demande du petit Francois, ils tirerent vn
collier de 2000. grains : Voila, dirent-ils, le lien qui le
tenoit captif, prenez le prifonnier & fa cadene, & en
faites felon la volonte" d' Onontio.

Pour Therefe, qu'ils auoient mariee depuis fa
captiuite, ils refpondirent qu'elle feroit rendiie, ft toft
qu'elle feroit de retour dans leur pays, & pour tef-
moignage de la verite de leur parole, ils offrirent vn
[5 5 J collier de 1500. grains de Porcelaine. La famille
dont nous auos parle, qui fe nomme la famille des
Loups, afleura les Francois par vn beau prefent de
36. palmes de Porcelaine, qu'ils auroient toufiours
vne demeure affeur£e parmy eux, & que le Pere en
particulier trouueroit toufiours fa petite natte toute
prefte pour le receuoir, & vn feu allume pour le
chauffer: tout cela fe fit auec de grands tefmoi-
gnages de bienueillance.

Mais quelques efprits deffians ne regardoient pas de
bon ceil vn petit coffre que le Pere auoit laifTe* pour
affeurance de fon retour: ils s'imaginoient que quel-
que mal-heur funefte a tout le pais effort renferme

1646] RELA TION OF 1643-46 55

reason of the injury received by one of those two
young men, through the weight of his burden, and
the difficulty of the roads. He failed not to give the
sense of all these speeches, and to specify all these
gifts, insomuch that the assembly was satisfied there-
with,— to the extent that afterward the Iroquois
responded with two gifts which they made to the
Algonquins; and they sent two others for the
Hurons.

As for what concerned Onontio and the French, —
as a favor to whom they had made peace with their
allies, — they answered with more pomp and with a
great manifestation of affection.

At the request of the little Frenchman, they drew
forth a necklace of 2000 beads. " There," said they,
' ' is the bond which held him captive ; take the pris-
oner and his chain, and do with them according to
the will of Onontio."

As for Therese, whom they had given in marriage
after her captivity, they answered that she would be
restored as soon as she should return to their coun-
try ; and, in token of the truth of their word, they
offered a [55] necklace of 1500 Porcelain beads. The
family of which we have spoken — which is named
" the Wolf family " — assured the French, by a beau-
tiful gift of 36 palms7 of Porcelain, that they should
always have a secure dwelling among them, and that
the Father, in particular, would always find his little
mat all ready to receive him, and a fire lighted to
warm him. All this was done with great demonstra-
tions of good will.

But some distrustful minds did not look with favor
on a little chest, which the Father had left as an
assurance of his return; they imagined that some

56 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

dans cette cafTette: le Pere pour les def-abufer,
l'ouurit, & leur fit voir qu'il ne contenoit autre
myftere que quelques petits befoins dont il pourroit
auoir affaire.

Ie m'oubliois quafi de dire que le Pere ayant remar-
que" dans l'affembl^e quelques Iroquois du pais des
Onondaeronnons, il leur fit publiquement vn prefent
de 2000. grains de Porcelaine, pour leur faire enten-
dre le deffein qu'auoient les Francois de les aller
voir en leur pais, & [56] que par auance il leur faifoit
ce prefent, afin qu'ils ne fuffent point furpris a la
veue de leurs vifages. Ou'au refte les Francois
auoient trois chemins pour les aller vifiter, l'vn par
les Annierronnons, l'autre par le grand Lac qu'ils
nomment Ontario, ou Lac de S. Louys; le troifieme
par le pays des Hurons. Quelques-vns des anciens
firent paroiitre de la furprife a cette propofition, il
faut, dirent-ils, prendre le chemin qu'a fraye Onon-
tio, les autres font trop dangereux: on n'y rencontre
que des gens de guerre, des homes peints & figurez
par le vifage, des maffes & des haches d'armes qui
ne demandent qu'a tuer, que la voye qui conduit en
leur pais eftoit maintenant toute belle & toute appla-
nie, & bien affeuree ; mais le Pere pourfuiuit fa pointe,
ne croyant pas qu'il fut a propos de dependre des
Annierronnons, pour monter dans les Nations plus
hautes, il mit fon prefent entre les mains des
Iroquois, qui promirent en prefence des Onondae-
ronnons de Taller pref enter aux Capitaines & aux
anciens de leur pays. Voila comme les affaires pu-
bliques fe terminerent, dans lefquelles le Pere ne
s'oublioit pas des plus fecretes & des plus importantes,

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 57

misfortune disastrous to the whole country was shut
up in that little box. The Father, to undeceive
them, opened it, and showed them that it contained
no other mystery than some small necessaries for
which he might have use.

I was almost forgetting to say that the Father, hav-
ing remarked in the assembly some Iroquois from
the country of the Onondaeronnons, made them in
public a gift of 2000 Porcelain beads, in order to
make them understand the design which the French
had in going to see them in their country ; and told
them [56] that he made them this gift in advance, so
that they would not be surprised at seeing the faces
of the French. He said that, furthermore, the
French had three roads by which to go to visit
them, — one through the Annierronnons ; another,
by the great Lake which they name Ontario, or Lake
of St. Louys; the third, through the land of the Hu-
rons. Some of the elders manifested surprise at this
proposition. " It is necessary," they said, " to take
the road which Onontio has opened ; the others are
too dangerous ; one meets in them only people of
war, men with painted and figured faces, with clubs
and war hatchets, who seek only to kill," — adding
that the way which leads into their country was now
excellent, entirely cleared, and very secure. But
the Father followed up his point, not considering it
expedient to depend on the Annierronnons, in order
to go up into the Nations above. He put his gift
in the hands of the Iroquois, who promised, in pres-
ence of the Onondaeronnons, to go and present it
to the Captains and elders of their country. Thus
ended the public affairs, in which the Father was not
forgetful of those more private and important. [57]

58 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.29

[57] il ramafla quelque peu de Chreftiens qui font
encor la, les inftruifit & leur adminiftra le Sacrement
de Penitence, il fit fouuent la ronde par les cabanes,
vifita les malades, & enuoya au Ciel par les eaux du
Baptefme quelques pauures creatures mourantes,
mais des riches predeltinez.

Apres toutes ces affemblees les Annierronnons
prefferet le depart des Francois, difans qu'vne troupe
d' Iroquois d'enhaut eftoit partie pour attendre au
paflage les Hurons qui deuoient defcendre aux
Francois, & que ces guerriers tireroient de la a
Montreal pour venir paffer deuant Richelieu, & re-
monter en leur pais par la riuiere des Iroquois : Nous
ne croyons pas, difoient-ils, qu'ils vous faffent aucun
mal quand ils vous rencontreront, mais nous craignons
pour les deux Algonquins qui font auec vous.

Le Pere leur dift la deffus fort a propos, qu'il s'e-
ftonnoit comme ils permettoient a ces hauts Iroquois
de defcendre dans leur diftrict, & de venir faire la
guerre dans leurs limites, defcendans les fauts &
les cheutes d'eau qui eftoient du reffort & dans les
marches des Annierronnons. [58] Nous leur en auons
donne^ aduis, refpondent-ils. Quoy done, fit le Pere,
m£prifent-ils voftre parole! ne voyez-vous pas qu'on
vous imputera tous les defordres qu'ils pourroient
commettre? Ils ouurirent les yeux a. cette raifon, &
promirent d'y apporter vn remede efficace.

Pour conclufion, le Pere, nos Francois & leurs
guides partirent du bourg dela faindte Trinite, le 16.
de Iuin, ils cheminerent quelques iours par terre, non
fans peine: car il faut faire comme les cheuaux
d'Arabie, porter fes viures & fon bagage, les ruif-

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 59

He gathered some few Christians, — who are still
there, — instructed them, and administered to them
the Sacrament of Penance ; he often made the round
of the cabins, visited the sick, and sent to Heaven by
the waters of Baptism some poor dying creatures, —
predestined, however, to riches.

After all these assemblies, the Annierronnons
urged the departure of the French, — saying that a
band of Iroquois from above had started in order to
await, at the passage, the Hurons who were to come
down to the French ; and that those warriors would
move thence to Montreal, in order to come and cross
before Richelieu, and go back to their own country
by the river of the Iroquois. " We do not believe,"
said they, " that they will do you any harm when
they meet you ; but we fear for the two Algonquins
who are with you."

The Father thereupon told them, very pertinently,
that he was astonished to see how they permitted
those upper Iroquois to come down into their dis-
trict, and proceed to make war within their limits,
descending the rapids and waterfalls which were
of the jurisdiction and within the marches of the
Annierronnons. [58] " We have given them warning
of this," they answered. "What then?' said the
Father, " do they despise your commands? Do
you not see that all the lawless acts that they may
commit will be imputed to you?" They opened
their eyes at this argument, and promised to apply
to the matter an efficacious remedy.

In conclusion, the Father, our French, and their
guides left the village of the holy Trinity on the
1 6th of June. They journeyed for several days by
land, not without difficulty: for it is necessary to do

60 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 2»

feaux font les hoftelleries qu'on rencontre. Eftans
arriuez fur le bord du Lac du S. Sacrement, ils firent
des canots ou de petits batteaux d'6corces, dans lef-
quels s'eftans embarquez, ils ramenent & voguerent
iufques au 27. du mefme mois de Iuin, qu'ils mirent
pied a terre a la premiere habitation des Francois
fitu£e fur la d6charge de la riuiere des Iroquois dans
le grand fleuue de S. Laurens.

Voila le commencement d'vne Million qui doit don-
ner de l'ouuerture a quantite d'autres parmy des
Nations bien peupl^es. Si ces chemins font parfemez
de Croix, auffi font-ils tous remplis de miracles: [59]
car il n'y a point d'induftrie ny de puiffance humaine
qui ait pu changer la face des affaires fi foudaine-
ment, & nous tirer du dernier defefpoir oil nous
eftions reduits : il n'y a ny pref ens ny eloquence qui
ait pu conuertir en fi peu de temps des cceurs enra-
gez depuis tant d'ann6es: ie ne fcay ce qu'on ne doit
point efperer apres ces coups de la main du Tout-
puiffant, qu'il foit beny au dela des fiecles, & au dela
de l'eternite\

Le Pere Ifaac Iogues entierement applique" & affedt6
a cette Million, apres auoir rendu compte de fa com-
miffion, ne fongeoit qu'a renoiier vn fecond voyage,
pour s'y en retourner, & fur tout auparauant l'hy-
uer, ne pouuant fouffrir d'eftre fi long-temps abfent
de fon 6poufe de fang. Enfin il fit fi bien qu'il en
trouua l'occafion fur la fin de Septembre, & partit des
trois Riuieres le 24. de ce mois, en compagnie d'vn
ieune homme Francois & de quelques Iroquois, &
autres Sauuages; nous auons appris qu'il auoit efte
abandonne" en chemin de la plufpart de fes compa-

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 61

like the horses of Arabia, — carry one's own provi-
sions and baggage; the brooks are the hostelries
that one meets. Having arrived on the shore of the
Lake of the Blessed Sacrament, they made canoes or
little boats of bark; having embarked in these, they
made their way by paddling, until the 27th of the
same month of June, when they landed at the first
settlement of the French, situated where the river
of the Iroquois empties into the great flood of St.
Lawrence.

Such is the beginning of a Mission which must
furnish an opening to many others among well-
peopled Nations. If these roads are strewn with
Crosses, they all are also filled with miracles; [59]
for there is no human skill or power which could
have changed the face of affairs so suddenly, and
have drawn us out of the utmost despair, to which we
were reduced. There are neither gifts nor eloquence
which could have converted, in so short a time,
hearts enraged for so many years. I know not what
may not be hoped for, after these acts at the hand of
the Almighty ; may he be blessed beyond ages and
beyond eternity.

Father Isaac Jogues, entirely attentive and devoted
to this Mission, after having rendered account of his
commission, thought of nothing but undertaking a
second voyage in order to return thither and especial-
ly before the winter ; for he could not endure to be so
long absent from his spouse of blood. At last, he
succeeded so well that he found the opportunity
therefor, toward the end of September; and he
started from three Rivers on the 24th of that month,
in company with a young Frenchman, and some Iro-
quois and other Savages. We have learned that he

62

LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

gnons, & qu'il continuoit fon voyage : il va a deffein
d'y pafTer l'hyuer, & dans toutes les occalions qui fe
prefenteront, [60] m6nager l'efprit & 1'affect.ion des
Sauuages, mais fur tout les affaires de Dieu, & les
richelTes du Paradis; il a bien befoin de bonnes
prieres, pour le fuccez d'vne entreprife fi difficile.

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 63

was abandoned on the way by most of his compan-
ions, but that he continued his voyage. He goes
intending to spend the winter there, and, on all the
occasions which shall present themselves, [60] to
influence the minds and affections of the Savages, —
but especially to care for the affairs of God and the
riches of Paradise. He has much need of earnest
prayers for the success of an enterprise so difficult.

64 LES RELATIONS DES JESU/TES [Vol.29

CHAPITRE V.

DE LA RESIDENCE DE SAINCT IOSEPH A SILLERY.

LA Refidence de S. Iofeph a recueilly les premiers
fruidts de la graine de l'Euangile femee en ce
nouueau monde, elle a imite les chofes bonnes
qui fe communiquent d'autant plus qu'elles ont de
bonte\ Son flambeau a repandu fa lumiere bien loin
au deca & au dela des riues du grand fleuue, fon
ardeur & fon feu ont fait reflentir leur chaleur dans
des regions quafi inconnues a l'Efte, ou l'Hyuer tient
tou jours vn magazin de neige & de glace.

Les fuperftitios & les Sorciers font bannis de cette
Refidence, il ne refle quafi plus perfonne a baptifer
de ceux qui s'y retirent ordinairement, le peu de
Chreftiens [61] qui la compofent, fait vn efcadron
merueilleufement puiffant deuant Dieu. Leur courfe
a porte la Foy en diuers endroits, & leur bon exemple
a gagne quantite de Sauuages. Ceux de Tadouffac
fe mocquans d'eux au commencement, furent enfm
touchez de leur patience & de leur conftance ; fi bien
qu'ils vinrent demander a Kebec qu'on leur enuoyaft
des Peres pour les inftruire. Cela leur fut accord6
Tan 1 64 1. depuis ce temps-la, on a toufiours continue
de les vifiter & de leur enfeigner la vraye dodtrine
de Iesvs-Christ. lis l'ont embraffee auec tant
de ferueur, & l'ont publiee auec tant de zele dans les
Nations du Nord, que ces grandes foreils qui n'en-
tendoient que les hurlemens des loups, retentiffent

1646J RELATION OF 1643-46 65

CHAPTER V.
OF THE RESIDENCE OF SAINT JOSEPH AT SILLERY.

THE Residence of St. Joseph has gathered the
first fruits of the Gospel grain sown in this
new world ; it has resembled the good things
which are communicated all the more in proportion
to their goodness. Its torch has spread abroad its
light very far along both banks of the great river;
its fervor and zeal have made their warmth felt in
regions almost unknown to the Summer, where the
Winter always keeps a storehouse of snow and ice.
Superstitions and the Sorcerers are banished from
this Residence ; there now remains hardly any one
to be baptized of those who usually retreat thither ;
the few Christians [61] who compose it form a
squadron marvelously powerful before God. Their
march has carried the Faith into various places, and
their good example has gained many Savages. Those
of Tadoussac, who mocked them at the start, were
finally touched by their patience and constancy, —
insomuch that they came to ask at Kebec, that some
Fathers should be sent to them in order to instruct
them. That was granted them in the year 1641 ; since
that time, we have always continued to visit them,
and to teach them the true doctrine of J E s u S
Christ. They have embraced it with so much
fervor, and have published it with so much zeal in
the Nations of the North, that these great forests,
which heard but the howlings of the wolves, now

66 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

maintenant des voix & des Cantiques de Iesvs-
Ch rist.

Les Attikamegues qui habitent au Nord des trois
Riuieres, ont receu la Foy des Chreftiens de S. Io-
feph: l'vn des Capitaines de cette refldence a tire" fon
origine de cette nation, les vifites qu'ils ont fait de
part & d'autre leur ont donne vne nouuelle alliance
qui regarde l'Eternite.

Vne bone vefue defia bien £g6e a fait des [62] mer-
ueilles en ce pais-la, allant vifiter fes neueux & fes
nieces, elle fe mit a precher auec tant de fuccez, & a
inftruire fes compatriottes auec tant de bon-heur, que
plufieurs venans par apres en nos habitations pour
demander le Baptefme, fcauoient non feulement les
principaux articles de noftre creance; mais encor les
prieres & les petits exercices d'vn bon Chreftien.
Cette pauure femme a fait trois voyages parmy ces
peuples, non pas tant pour voir fes parens & fes
Alliez, que pour les engendrer en Iesvs- Christ.
I'ayme bien mes parens & mes enfans, difoit-elle,
mais ie les quitterois tous tres-volotiers, & toutes les
richeffes des Francois, pour la conuerfion d'vne feule
ame. Ces fruidts font fortis du parterre du glorieux
S. Iofeph.

Ce n'efl pas tout, les Abnaquiois que nous auons
entre l'Orient & le Midy, ont fait vne telle alliance
auec nos Neophytes, que quelques-vns d'entr'eux
s'eftans fait baptifer demeurent maintenant a S.
Iofeph ; & pour autant que le feu eft toujours feu,
c'eft a dire toufiours agiffant, ces nouueaux Chre-
ftiens prirent refolution ce Printemps dernier de faire
vne [63] courfe en leur pais, d'y publier la Foy, & de
fcauoir des principaux de leur nation, s'ils n'auroient

1646J RELATION OF 1645-46 67

resound with voices and Hymns concerning Jesus
Christ.

The Attikamegues, who live North of three Riv-
ers, have received the Faith from the Christians of
St. Joseph. One of the Captains of this residence
derived his origin from that nation ; the visits which
they have made on both sides have given them a
new alliance, which regards Eternity.

A good widow, already quite aged, has done [62]
wonders in that country ; going to visit her nephews
and nieces, she began to preach with so much suc-
cess, and to instruct her fellow-countrymen with
such good results, that several, coming afterward
into our settlements to ask for Baptism, knew not
only the principal articles of our creed, but also the
prayers and the little exercises of a good Christian.
This poor woman has made three journeys among
those peoples, — not so much to see her kinsfolk and
her Friends, as to give them birth in Jesus Christ.
" I love well my relatives and my children," said
she, " but I would leave them all very gladly, and
all the riches of the French, for the conversion of a
single soul." These fruits have issued from the
garden of the glorious St. Joseph.

This is not all; the Abnaquiois, whom we have
between the East and the South, have made such an
alliance with our Neophytes, that some among them,
having been baptized, now dwell at St. Joseph.
And, forasmuch as fire is always fire, — that is to
say, always active, — these new Christians took the
resolution, this last Spring, to make an [63] excur-
sion into their own country, to publish the Faith
there, and to ascertain from the principal persons of
their nation whether they would consent to lend ear

68 LES RELA TIONS DES J ^SUITES [Vol. 29

point pour agreable de prefler l'oreille aux Predica-
teurs de l'Euangile: ils ont tenu leur parole, & enfin
font retournez le 14. du mois d'Aouft, & le quin-
zi6me, apres auoir amfte" a vne folennelle procemon
qu'on fait a Kebec ce iour la en l'honneur de la
faindte Vierge, pour luy prefenter la perfonne du
Roy & tous fes Eftats, le plus confiderable d'entr'eux
nous parla en ces termes. Ie vous auois promis ce
Printemps que ie me tranfporterois en mon pais, que
i'y porterois les bonnes nouuelles de l'Euangile, &
que ie fcaurois des anciens quel amour ils pourroient
auoir pour noftre creance. Comme ils ont beaucoup
d'inclination pour mon frere Noel Negabamat que
voila, i'ay iette dans leurs oreilles, les paroles qu'il
m'auoit mifes en bouche, ie leur ay dit que mon frere
faifoit grand eftat de leur amitie\ mais que cette
amitie eftoit bien courte qui fe terminoit auec la vie,
qu'il fe falloit encor aymer apres la mort, & que s'ils
ne croyoient en Dieu, leur feparation feroit eternelle :
ie leur ay parle de la beaute du Ciel & des [64] hor-
reurs de l'Enfer, apres m'auoir entendu, trente hom-
ines me dirent qu'ils embrafferoient noftre creance.
Dix femmes me donnerent la mefme affeurance.
Tous les autres m'exhorterent de venir querir vn
Pere, & qu'ils feroient bien aifes de l'ecouter deuant
que d'engager leur parole.

Vn Capitaine qui a veu la piete des Chreftiens de
S. Iofeph, fe trouuant en cette affemblee, dill des
merueilles de noftre creance, proteftant qu'il fe feroit
baptifer au plufloft, & qu'il ne fouffriroit aupres de
foy aucune perfonne qui n'eut volonte de fe faire in-
ftruire. Voila, difoit cet Ambaffadeur Chreftien, les
penfees & les refolutions de mon pais ; voyez fi vous

1646 J RELA TION OF 1645-46 69

to the Preachers of the Gospel. They have kept
their word, and finally returned on the 14th of the
month of August; and, on the fifteenth, — after
having attended a solemn procession which is made
at Kebec that day, in honor of the blessed Virgin, in
order to present to her the person of the King and all
his Estates, — the most influential person among
them addressed us in these terms: " I had promised
you last Spring that I would proceed to my own
country, that I would carry thither the good tidings
of the Gospel, and that I would learn from the elders
what love they might have for our belief. As they
are greatly attached to my brother Noel Negabamat,
whom you see here, I cast into their ears the words
which he had put into my mouth. I told them that
my brother made great account of their friendship,
but that that friendship was very short which ended
with life; that friends should love even after death;
and that if they did not believe in God, their separa-
tion would be eternal. I told them of the beauty of
Heaven, and of the [64] horrors of Hell; after hav-
ing heard me, thirty men informed me that they
would embrace our belief. Ten women gave me
the same assurance. All the others exhorted me to
come and seek a Father, — and said that they would
be very glad to listen to him before pledging their
word."

A Captain who has seen the piety of the Chris-
tians of St. Joseph, happening to be in this assembly,
told wonders of our belief, — protesting that he would
be baptized as soon as possible, and that he would
not suffer near him any person who had no wish to
become instructed. " Such," said this Christian
Ambassador, " are the opinions and resolutions of

70 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.29

me voulez donner vn Pere, mes gens fe doiuent afTem-
bler tous en mefme endroit pendant l'hyuer prochain,
pour entendre en paix & en repos la voix de celuy
que vous enuoyerez.

Cette demande a paru fi faincte & fi raifonnable,
qu'on n'a pu l'econduire. Le Pere Gabriel Dreuil-
lettes qui a defia vefcu partny les Algonquins dans
leurs grandes courfes, eft alle" pafler le plus fafcheux
temps de l'ann£e auec ces Abnaquiois, [65] bien
refolu de viure & de mourir en la Croix de Iesvs-
Christ. II pourra pleinement f atisf aire aux defirs
qu'il a de fouffrir, c'eft ce qu'il peut attendre de plus
conftant & de plus afleure parmy ces peuples. Les
fruidts qu'on pourra recueillir de cette Million auec
le temps, prouiendront originairement des enfans du
grand S. Iofeph : cette Million a efte furnomm^e de
l'Aflomption.

Les Algonquins de l'lfle ont eu beaucoup d'occa-
fion de profiter de la vertu & du bon exemple de ces
premiers Chreftiens, auffi eft-il vray que quelques-vns
ont marche fur leurs piftes ; mais on diroit qu'vne par-
tie de ces miferables, font dans vn fens reprouue. Les
Huronsplus eloignez defcendats vers les Francois, ont
admire" la Foy de ces bonnes ames, & quelques-vns
ont efte touchez iufques a les vouloir imiter.

Vn Capitaine de leur nation qui a paffe l'hyuer a
Kebec, difoit ce Printemps a Montreal, que les Chre-
ftiens de S. Iofeph eftoient les vrays creans. En
effet, c'eft le nom que leur donnent tous les autres
Sauuages, & fi quelqu'vn d'entr'eux veut temoigner
de la ferueur, ie m'en iray, dit-il, [66] demeurer
parmy les creans, c'eft a dire parmy les Chreftiens
de S. Iofeph.

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 71

my country. See if you are willing to give me a
Father; my people are all to assemble in the same
place during the next winter, in order to hear, in
peace and at leisure, the voice of him whom you shall
send."

This request appeared so devout and so reason-
able that it could not be denied. Father Gabriel
Dreuillettes, who has already lived among the Algon-
quins in their extensive rovings, has gone to spend
the most trying season of the year with those Abna-
quiois, [65] fully resolved to live and to die at the
Cross of Jesus Christ. He will be able to
satisfy in full the desires that he has for suffering ;
that is the most unquestionable and certain result
which he can expect among these peoples. The
fruits which may be gathered from this Mission, in
course of time, will proceed in the first instance
from the children of the great St. Joseph : this Mis-
sion has been surnamed that " of the Assumption."

The Algonquins of the Island have had much
opportunity to profit by the virtue and the good
example of these first Christians, — accordingly, it is
true that some of them have followed their trail ;
but one might say that a part of these wretches are,
in a sense, reprobate. The Hurons, still more dis-
tant, coming down toward the French, have admired
the Faith of these good souls ; and some have been
influenced, even to the wish to imitate them.

A Captain of their nation who has spent the win-
ter at Kebec, said this Spring, at Montreal, that the
Christians of St. Joseph were the true believers. In
fact, this is the name which all the other Savages give
them ; and if any one among those would show his
fervor, he says : " I will go [66] to dwell among the

72 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

II faut confeffer que fi plufieurs Sauuages auoient
la politeffe des Fran9ois, & s'ils fe produifoient auec
autant de graces, qu'ils rauiroient les yeux & les cceurs
de ceux qui verroient le fond de leurs ames. lis ne
peuuent fouffrir qu'aucun infidele demeure dans leurs
cabanes, qu'il ne donne des indices de fa conuerfion;
ils vifitent ceux qui ont quelque differend, leur
donnent de bons aduis, leur font des prefens pour les
f aire rentrer en leur deuoir ; les parens commencent
de prendre vn foin tout particulier d'apprendre les
prieres a leurs enfans, de les amener a confeffe, de
les faire fouuenir de leurs pechez. Vne bonne femme
difoit a fa petite fille, mon enfant, voila les offenfes
que tu as commifes, ne t'en oublie pas, demandes en
pardon a Dieu, & me dis au retour de confeffe, fi tu
n'as rien oublie\

Leur deuotion a la faindte Meffe eft toute aymable
& toute particuliere, ils l'entendent tous les iours
auec vne grande modeftie. II n'y a Cafuifte fi rigou-
reux qui obligeaft aucun homme de fe tranfporter a
l'Eglife dans les rigueurs d'vn [67] froid eftrange-
ment picquant, lors que la diftance eft notable, ny
les montagnes, ny les vallees, ny la longueur du che-
min, ny les glaces, ny les neiges, ny le vent, ny le
froid n'empefchent ny les hommes, ny les femmes,
ny les enfans de venir tous les iours a la Chappelle
pour y entendre la faindte Meffe. Les Peres nouuel-
lement arriues nous difent qu'on ne concoit nulle-
ment en France ce qu'ils voyent de leurs yeux. Ces
bonnes gens viennent de fois a autre pendant le iour,
vifiter le faindt Sacrement, ils apportent leurs enfans,
les prefentent a Dieu auec des tendreffes veritable-
ment amoureuf es : voicy la priere de quelques pares.

1646] RELA TION OF 1643-46 73

believers," — that is to say, "among the Christians
of St. Joseph."

It must be acknowledged that many Savages, — if
they had the politeness of the French, and if they
presented themselves with equal grace, — would rav-
ish the eyes and hearts of those who should see the
depth of their souls. They cannot endure that any
infidel shall dwell in their cabins, unless he give
signs of his conversion; they visit those who have
any quarrel, give them good advice, and make them
presents, in order to bring them back to their duty;
and the parents begin to take a very special care to
teach the prayers to their children, bring them to
confession, and make them remember their sins. A
good woman said to her little daughter: " My child,
see the offenses that thou hast committed : do not
forget them. Ask God's pardon for them, and tell
me on thy return from confession, if thou didst not
forget something."

Their devotion to holy Mass is altogether de-
lightful, and quite singular: they hear it every
day, with great modesty. There is no Casuist so
strict that he would oblige any man to betake him-
self to Church in the severities of an [67] unusually
piercing cold, when the distance is considerable ; but
neither the mountains nor the valleys, nor the length
of the way, nor the ice, nor the snows, nor the wind,
nor the cold, prevent them — either the men, or the
women, or the children — from coming every day to
the Chapel in order to hear there holy Mass.
The Fathers newly arrived tell us that in France one
has no conception of what they here see with their
own eyes. These good people come from time to
time during the day to visit the blessed Sacrament ;

74 LES RELATIONS DES /J&SUITES [Vol.29

Toy qui as tout fait, tu fcais tout, tu vois au dela bien
loing tout ce qui arriuera; voicy mon enfant, fi tu
connois qu'il ne vueille point auoir d'efprit quand il
fera grand, s'il ne veut point croire en toy, prends le,
deuant qu'il t'offence ; tu me l'as prefix, ie te le rends,
mais comme tu es tout puiffant, fi tu luy veux donner
de l'efprit, & me le conferuer, tu me feras plaifir.

La pauurete des Sauuages eft 11 grande, & leurs
viures fi miferables, excepte quelques iours, qu'ils
tuent des animaux en [68] abondance, & encore en
mangent-ils la viande fans pain, fans fel, & fans autre
faulce que l'appetit, qu'on n'a point creu iufques a
prefent qu'il fallut leur parler de ieufnes, ny d'abfti-
nence de chair, fi non par deuotion. Cependant ils
fe rendet par fois fi religieux en ce poindt, qu'ils paf-
feront des iours entiers fans manger quoy que ce foit,
pluftoft que de manger de la chair qui en verite* eft
pire que le plus pauure pain du monde, tant elle eft
feiche & dure, ayant efte boucanee a la fum6e.

Si quelqu'vn tombe dans quelque faute publique,
oil il en tire luy mefme le chaftiment, ou les autres
ne manqueront pas de luy en faire porter la peine &
la penitence. II n'y a pas long-temps qu'vn Capitaine
venant a l'Eglife, appella le Pere qui s'en alloit a
l'Autel, il luy dit mon Pere, i'entendray la Meffe
hors l'Eglife, ie ne merite pas d'y entrer: pourquoy
luy fit le Pere. I 'ay beu auec des gens qui ont
excede. As-tu excede toy-mefme, dift le Pere, non,
mais i'ay beu auec ceux qui l'auoient fait: cela ne
doit point empefcher que tu n'entres en l'Eglife, ie
te prie mon Pere, repart ce bon Neophyte [69] que
ie fois puny afin que les autres hayffent la boiffon qui
nous perd. Au refte, qu'il pleuue, qu'il grefle, que

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 75

they bring their children, and offer them to God
with a tenderness truly loving. Here follows the
prayer of some parents: " Thou who hast made all,
thou knowest everything ; thou seest, very far away,
whatever will happen. Here is my child; if thou
knowest that he will not have sense when he shall
be grown up, if he will not believe in thee, take him,
before he offend thee. Thou hast lent him to me ;
I give him back to thee ; but as thou art all-power-
ful, if thou wilt give him sense and preserve him to
me, thou wilt do me a favor."

The povert)^ of the Savages is so great, and their
provisions are so wretched, except on some days
when they kill animals in [68] abundance, — and,
even then, they eat the meat of these without bread,
without salt, and without other sauce than the appe-
tite,— that it has not hitherto been believed neces-
sary to speak to them of fasts, or of abstinence from
meat, unless by reason of devotion. However, they
sometimes become so devout on this point, that
they will spend whole days without eating anything
whatever, rather than to eat meat which in truth is
worse than the poorest bread in the world, — so dry
and hard it is, after being dried by smoke.

If any one commits a notorious fault, either he
himself receives punishment from it, or the others
will not fail to make him bear the penalty and the
penance therefor. Not long ago, a Captain, coming
to the Church, called the Father, who was on his
way to the Altar, and said, to him, " My Father, I
will hear Mass outside the Church ; I do not deserve
to enter it." " Why? " said the Father to him. " I
have drunk with people who have indulged to ex-
cess." "Hast thou thyself drunk to excess?" said

76 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.29

le lieu foit fale ou fangeux, ils fe tiennent d£couuerts
a la veue de tout le monde.

II y auoit quelque different dans vn mefnage : la
difpute fe rendit publique en forte qu'ils fe vouloient
quitter l'vn l'autre, felon leur ancienne couftume.
Vn des principaux Chreftiens fcachant que le diuorce
prouenoit pluftoft du cofte du mari, que de la femme,
fe leua a la fin de la Meffe. Arreftez-vous, dift-il a
l'affemblee, nous auons icy vn homme qui defhon-
nore la priere, il parle de quitter fa femme, qu'il
feache que nous ne fouffrirons iamais qu'il en prenne
vn autre. Nous fommes Chreftiens, nous croyrons.
Mais ou eft-il qu'il paroiffe, ie le puniray moy mefme
s'il ne rentre en fon deuoir. Toute l'afli fiance ap-
prouua ce difcours, le Pere fe tournant fut bien efton-
ne" d'entendre ce Predicateur, le coupable encore
plus: il ne dift iamais mot, il s'en retourna douce-
ment vers fa femme : cet exces qu'on fcait bien reduire
a fon poincl, donne plus de ioye que de trifleffe. La
conclufion fuft que le mari & la [70] femme fe vinrent
confeffer & communier au premier iour.

On a beau deffendre le commerce de vin, & d'eau
de vie auec les Sauuages, il fe trouue toufiours quel-
que ame lafche qui pour tirer vn peu de poil de
Cailor, fait paffer au clair de la Lune quelques bou-
teilles dans leurs cabanes. Les Capitaines crient &
tempeflent, mais il eft tres- difficile de bannir entiere-
ment ce defordre. Quelques-vns ayans done exce-
de, fe voulurent punir & chaftier eux mefmes. L'vn
d'eux a l'yffue du facrifice de la Meffe, s'ecria, mes
freres, puis que vous auez eu connoiffance de noftre
pech6, il faut que vous en voyez la penitence ; ca, ca,
dift-il a fes complices, payons a Dieu ce que nous luy

1646] RELA T10N OF 1643-46 77

the Father. " No, but I have drunk with those who
have done so." " That ought not to prevent thee
from entering the Church." " I beg thee, my
Father," answers this good Neophyte, [69] " that I
be punished, so that the others may hate the drink
which destroys us." Moreover, whether it rain or
hail, or the place be dirty and muddy, they stand
uncovered, in the sight of every one.

There was some contention in a household ; the
dispute became public, in such sort that they wished
to leave each other, according to their former cus-
tom. One of the principal Christians, knowing that
the separation was proceeding rather from the hus-
band's side than from the wife's, rose at the end of
Mass. " Stop," said he to the assembly; " we have
here a man who dishonors prayer, — he talks of leav-
ing his wife ; let him know that we will never suffer
him to take another. We are Christians; we will
believe. But where is he? Let him appear; I will
punish him myself, if he does not return to his duty."
All who were present approved this speech; the
Father, turning round, was much astonished to hear
this Preacher, — the culprit, still more ; he said never
a word, but returned thence quietly to his wife.
This excess, which can easily be reduced within
bounds, gives more joy than sorrow. The conclu-
sion was, that the husband and the [70] wife came
to confess and receive communion at the first oppor-
tunity.

It is useless to forbid the trade in wine and brandy
with the Savages ; there is always found some base
soul who, to gain a little Beaver fur, introduces by
Moonlight some bottles into their cabins. The Cap-
tains complain and storm, but it is very difficult to

78 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

auons d£rob6 par noftre offenfe: ie fcay bien que
cettx qui ne croyent pas, fe mocqueront de nous, mais
il ne faut pas que leurs gaufleries nous empefchet de
fatisfaire pour nos offences: cela dit, il tire vn grand
foiiet, il fe fait rudement fuftiger par vn autre, & puis
il n'epargne non plusles 6paules des coupables, qu'on
n'auoit pas 6pargn6 les fiennes. Les femmes faifoient
voir ce fpedtacle a leurs enfans : he bien leur dif oient-
elles, [71] ferez-vous mechans? mentirez-vous iamais,
voyez comme on traite les defobeyffans.

Vn payen enueloppe dans la mefme faate, fe pre-
fenta pour l'expier par la peine : mais on luy dift que
l'Eglife, ne luy eftoit point encore ouuerte. Ce qui
confola les Chrefliens, croyans que Dieu les preferoit
aux Infideles acceptant leur penitence.

Vn ieune garcon ayant beu auec les autres, &
voyant qu'on ne luy difoit mot, s'en alia par apres
fe plaindre au Pere de ce qu'on ne l'auoit pas puny
comme les coupables, demandant du moins la per-
miffion de fe battre foy-mefme en particulier. La
nature apprend aux plus barbares que tout peche
merite chaftiment ; mais il faut aduoiier que ceux qui
connoiffent bien les Sauuages, qui font eloignez
depuis tant de liecles de toute foumiffion & de tout
adte de iuftice, ne font pas peu eftonnez de voir ce
changement fi peu attendu. Dieu vueille que cette
ferueur leur dure vn long-temps.

Vn Sauuage etranger qui fe trouua enueloppe dans
cette penitence, demanda pourquoy les Francois qui
commettoient [72] les mefmes fautes, ne fubiffoient
pas les mefmes peines. Les autres Sauuages luy ref-
pondirent, que la Iuftice ou le Capitaine des Francois
prenoit connoiffance de leurs crimes, & qu'ils en

1646] RELATION OF 1643-46 79

banish altogether this illegal practice. Some per-
sons having accordingly drunk to excess, wished to
punish and chastise themselves. One of them, at the
end of the sacrifice of the Mass, exclaimed: " My
brothers, since you have had knowledge of our sin,
it is necessary that you see our penance for it. Come
now," he says to his fellow-sinners, " let us repay to
God what we have stolen from him by our offense.
I know well that those who do not believe will mock
us, but their jeerings must not prevent us from aton-
ing for our offenses." That said, he draws forth a
great whip ; he has himself severely flogged by
another, and then he also spares not the shoulders of
the culprits, any more than they had spared his own.
The women showed this sight to their children.
" How now?" said they, [71] " will you be naughty?
will you ever lie? See how they treat the disobe-
dient."

A pagan, involved in the same fault, presented
himself to expiate it by the penalty ; but they told
him that the Church was not yet open to him. This
consoled the Christians, who believed that God pre-
ferred them to the Infidels, by accepting their
penance.

A young lad, having drunk with the others, and
seeing that not a word was said to him, went after-
ward to the Father, to complain that they had not
punished him like the guilty, — asking at least per-
mission to beat himself in private. Nature teaches
the most barbarous, that all sin deserves punish-
ment ; but it must be acknowledged that those who
are well acquainted with the Savages, — who have
been removed for so many centuries from all sub-
mission, and from every act of justice, — are not a

80 LES RELATIONS DES J /'.SUITES [Vol.29

auoient veu chattier de leurs yeux, mais qu'ils
aymoient mieux eftre punis dans l'Eglife par l'ordre
des Peres.

II eft vray que ces penitences publiques font necef-
faires en ces premiers commencemens, & notamment
parmy des Sauuages. Premierement, pource que
les Payens fe fcandalifent fort ayf6ment des fautes
des nouueaux Chreftiens, & li on n'en tiroit quelque
chaftiment public, ils attribueroient le peche\ non
pas tant a la perfonne qui le commet, comme a
la dodtrine que les Neophytes embraffent, & qu'ils
profeffent. En fecond lieu, les Capitaines Sauuages
n'ayans aucune Iuftice regime, ny aucune authority
de punir les defauts de leurs gens, nous fommes
contrains de leur feruir de peres & de luges, em-
pefchans les defordres par quelques chaftimens
qu'ils acceptent fort volontiers ; mais les dereglemens
que les vaiffeaux a l'ordinaire apportent par leurs
boiffons, nous font abandonner cette [73] charite, &
remettre a la Iuftice du pays la punition des yurongne-
ries trop frequentes, pendant qu'ils font ancrez en nos
ports.

Les Relations precedentes ont fait mention de la
mort toute faindte d'vn Neophyte nomine" Francois
Xauier NenafkS'mat : c'eft celuy qui auec Noel Nega-
bamat a iette les premiers fondemens du Chriftia-
nifme en la refidence de S. Iofeph. II laiffa deux
enfans, vn garcon & vne fille: celle-cy eft mariee &
mene vne vie fort Chreftienne ; Son fils qui fe nom-
moit Vincent Xauier Nipiki^igan, fut miferablement
bleffe a mort c6t Automne dernier par les Sokoquiois,
dont nous auons parle cy deffus; ce pauure homme
fut rapporte* a Kebec & conduit a l'Hofpital, ou il a

1646] RELATION OF i64s -46 81

little astonished to see this change, so little expected.
God grant that this fervor may last them a long time.

A stranger Savage, who happened to be involved
in this penance, asked why the French who com-
mitted [72] the same faults did not undergo the same
penalties. The other Savages answered him that
Justice, or the Captain of the French, took knowl-
edge of their crimes, and that they had seen with
their own eyes some of them chastised; but that
they themselves preferred to be punished in the
Church, by order of the Fathers.

It is true that these public penances are necessary
in these first beginnings, and especially among
Savages, — first, because the Pagans are very easily
scandalized by the faults of the new Christians ; and,
unless some public punishment were inflicted for
these, they would attribute the sin not so much to the
person who commits it, as to the doctrine which the
Neophytes embrace and profess. In the second
place, — as the Savage Captains have no regular Jus-
tice, or any authority to punish the failings of their
people, — we are constrained to serve them as fathers
and Judges, preventing disorders by certain punish-
ments which they accept very willingly. But the
irregularities which the vessels usually occasion by
their liquors, cause us to abandon this [73] charity,
and to refer to the Justice of the country the punish-
ment of the too frequent cases of drunkenness, while
they are anchored in our ports.

The preceding Relations have made mention of
the most blessed death of a Neophyte named Fran-
cois Xavier Nenaskoumat; it was he who, in com-
pany with Noel Negabamat, laid the first founda-
tions of Christianity in the residence of St. Joseph.

82 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

efte" receu & traite auec vne grande charite ; voyant
que fes playes efloient incurables, il voulut mourir
auec les Chreftiens de S. Iofeph, il a rauy & en fa
maladie & en fa mort tous ceux qui connoiffoient les
touches de fon coeur. L'vne des plus eftranges
paffions des Sauuages, c'eft la vengeance contre leurs
ennemis: on ne pouuoit au commencement leur
perfuader que ce fut bien fait [74] de prier pour eux,
ils en eftoient fcandalifez; Tu ne nous aymes pas,
dif oiet-ils au Pere qui leur donnoit ce conf eil : cette
priere ne vaut rien, quel bien nous peut-il arriuer
que Dieu beniffe ou f ecoure nos ennemis ; ceux qui
croyet, ont bien change de langage: celuy-cy trai-
treufement maffacre, fans iamais auoir commis aucun
adte d'hoftilite contre cette nation qu'ils ne ^ouloient
point auoir pour ennemie, non feulement pardona a
fes meurtriers, mais il pria fouuent Dieu qu'il les
benift, qu'il leur fit la grace de fe conuertir, & lors
qu'on luy porta le Viatique, apres auoir reitere les
prieres qu'il faifoit pour eux, il promit d'vn accent
qui touchoit tous les affiftans qu'il fe fouuiedroit
d'eux au Ciel & qu'il demanderoit a Dieu leur falut,
& la connoiff ance de Iesvs-Christ a toute leur
nation ; cette mort a efte precieufe deuant Dieu &
deuant les hommes.

Sa femme a monftre vne charite & vne conftance
admirable a feruir fon pauure mari : elle auoit receu
vn coup de hache de ces traiftres, ils luy auoient
enleue vne partie de la peau de la tefte auec fes che-
ueux, bref ils l'auoient laiffee pour morte, [75] mais
fes bleffeures n'eftant pas mortelles, ft toft qu'elle
fe peuft traifner, elle donna de l'eftonnement a tous
ceux qui connoiffent le genie des Sauuages. Si toft

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 83

He left two children, a boy and a girl; the latter is
married, and leads a very Christian life. His son,
who was named Vincent Xavier Nipikiwigan, was
miserably wounded to death this last Autumn by the
Sokoquiois, of whom we have spoken herein above.
This poor man was brought back to Kebec, and
taken to the Hospital, where he was received and
treated with great charity; seeing that his wounds
were incurable, he wished to die with the Christians
of St. Joseph. He delighted, both in his sickness
and at his death, all those who knew the emotions of
his heart. One of the strangest passions of the Sav-
ages is vengeance against their enemies ; it was not
possible, at the beginning, to persuade them that it
was well done [74] to pray for these, — they were
scandalized at that. " Thou dost not love us," they
said to the Father who was giving them this coun-
sel; " that prayer is of no use ; what good can come
to us, if God bless or succor our enemies?" Those
who believe have indeed changed their tone; this
man — treacherously murdered, without ever having
committed any act of hostility against that nation,
which they did not wish to have as an enemy — not
only forgave his murderers, but often prayed God to
bless them, and to do them the favor of converting
them. And when the Viaticum was brought to
him, after having reiterated the prayers that he made
for them, he promised, in a tone that touched all
the bystanders, that he would remember them in
Heaven, and that he would ask from God their
salvation, and the knowledge of Jesus Christ for
their whole nation. This death was precious in the
sight of God and of men.

His wife showed an admirable charity and con-

84 LIS RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.29

qu'vn man eft en eftat de ne plus recouurer fa fante,
fa femme le quitte & l'abandonne, le laiffant entre
les mains de fes parens, s'il en a; s'il n'en a point,
elle luy auance fes iours pour le deliurer, & elle auffi
de la peine que caufe vne grande maladie : le mari
en fait autant a fa femme en cas pareil : cette barba-
rie n'eft plus parmy ceux qui recoiuet & qui confer-
uent la Foy : ce flambeau leur fait voir la beauts de
la charite coniugale, mais il n'ofte pas pourtant les
inclinations d'vne nature nourrie dedans ces habi-
tudes depuis la naiffance des fiecles. Cette femme
vrayement forte & fidele panfoit tous les iours fon
mari, fouffrant la puanteur de fes playes, dont elle
eff uyoit continuellement le pus ; Elle dif oit par f ois
en elle-mefme, ie fens bien que ie fuis Chreftienne ;
car fans cela il ne me feroit pas pofQble de demeurer
vn iour aupres d'vn homme qui me choque les fens
G. rudement, & cependant ie ne fcaurois m'eloigner
de luy. C'eftoit fans doute vne [76] grace bien
particuliere, & vn effet du Sacrement de Mariage.

Ce pauure patient auoit vne petite fille qu'il auoit
confacre a Dieu, des le iour de fa naiffance, luy pro-
mettant qu'il la porteroit a eftre vierge toute fa vie.
II la donna des fa petite enfance aux Meres Vrfu-
lines: il n'eft pas croyable combien ces bonnes Meres
faifoient eftat de ce petit enfancon, elles admiroient
fes bonnes inclinations, & la douceur de fon naturel ;
on eut dit que fa plus grande recreation eftoit de
prier Dieu, iamais en quelque humeur qu'elle fut,
elle ne refufoit de le faire; quand elle pleuroit,
comme font les enfans, fi on luy difoit : prions Dieu,
auffi-toft ioignant fes petites mains elle arreftoit
fes larmes & prononcoit fes prieres qu'elle fcauoit

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 85

stancy in attending her poor husband. She had
received a blow from a hatchet, at the hands of those
traitors; they had removed a part of her scalp, with
her hair, — in short, they had left her for dead; [75]
but, her wounds not being mortal, as soon as she
could drag herself along, she caused astonishment in
all those who know the character of the Savages.
As soon as a husband is in a condition where he can
no longer recover his health, his wife quits and aban-
dons him, leaving him in the hands of his relatives,
if he has any; if he has none, she hastens his days,
to deliver him, and herself also, from the trouble
which a severe illness causes; the husband does the
like to his wife, in similar case. This barbarism no
longer exists among those who receive and preserve
the Faith : that torch makes them see the beauty of
conjugal charity; but it does not take away, how-
ever, the inclinations of a nature reared in those
habits since the beginning of the ages. This wife,
truly strong and faithful, nursed her husband every
day, enduring the stench of his wounds, from which
she continually wiped away the pus. She said some-
times, within herself: " I feel indeed that I am a
Christian, — for without that it would not be possible
for me to remain one day near a man who so rudely
offends my senses; and yet I cannot withdraw from
him." This was, without doubt, a [76] very special
grace, and an effect of the Sacrament of Marriage.

This poor patient had a little daughter, whom he
had consecrated to God from the day of her birth,
promising him that he would influence her to be a
virgin all her life. He gave her from her early
childhood to the Ursuline Mothers; it is not credible
how much these good Mothers made account of that

86 LES RELATIONS DES jASUITES [Vol.29

parfaitement des l'aage de trois ou quatre ans; fon
pere fe voyant proche de la mort, la voulut voir: on
la tire du Seminaire, on la conduit vers ce pauure
mourat, on la luy prefente. Elle eftoit fi gentiment
veftue, & elle le falua auec tant de graces qu'il en
fut rauy. II ne fe peuft contenir de l'embraffer, il
la baife, il la prend fur fon licit, la tient dans fon
fein, luy donne mille benedictions, luy [77] congra-
tule d'eftre tobee en fi bone main, il luy parle
comme fi elle euft eu cinquate ans : Adieu ma fille ie
m'en vay au Ciel, ne t'attrifte point de ma mort, fois
bien obeiifante aux filles vierges, elle font tes plus
proches parentes, ne les quitte iamais: quand tu
feras grande, elles te diront ce qu'il te faudra faire.
Cet amour trop ardent fit mourir cette pauure enfant,
elle prift la fiebvre dans l'haleine & dans la bouche
mourante de fon pere, comme elle eftoit fort tendre,
n'ayant pas plus de cinq ans, l'air corrompu s'em-
para bien ayfement de fon petit corps, & luy caufa
vne maladie qui l'enuoya fix mois apres au tombeau.

Son pere eftant mort, on en fceut bien-toft la nou-
uelle au Seminaire ou on l'auoit reportee. Sa mai-
ftreffe la mena deuant le faindt Sacrement, pour la
faire prier Dieu pour fon ame. Ayant fait fa priere,
elle fe tourna elle-mefme vers fa maiftreffe & luy
dift, Iesvs fera-il pas mon pere, puifque ie n'en ay
plus? La Vierge fera auffi ma mere, & vous ferez
mes parentes, mon pere me la dit. Elle raconta aux
Meres tout ce que fon pere luy auoit recommande.

[78] Sa fievre fe faifant de plus en plus connoiftre,
l'allita en forte qu'elle n'en releua plus. Elle fe
voulut confeffer, le Pere qui l'ecouta, en fut rauy,
ne croyant pas qu'vn enfant qu'il vouloit confoler,

1646] RELATION OF 164J- 46 87

little child. They admired her good inclinations and
the gentleness of her nature ; one would have said
that her greatest recreation was to pray to God;
never, in whatever humor she was, did she refuse to
do this. When she wept, as children do, if one said
to her, " Let us pray to God," immediately joining
her little hands, she checked her tears and uttered
her prayers, which she knew perfectly from the age
of three or four years. Her father, seeing himself
nigh to death, wished to see her; they took her from
the Seminary, conducted her to that poor dying man,
and presented her to him. She was so prettily
dressed, and she greeted him with so many graces
that he was charmed with her. He could not satisfy
himself with embracing her; he kisses her, takes
her on his bed, holds her to his bosom, gives her a
thousand blessings, [77] and congratulates her on
having fallen into such good hands; he speaks to
her as if she had been fifty years old: " Good-by, my
daughter, I am going away to Heaven : do not grieve
over my death. Be very obedient to the virgin
sisters, — they are thy nearest relatives; never leave
them; when thou art grown up, they will tell thee
what thou must do." This love, too ardent, caused
that poor child to die ; she caught the fever from
the breath and from the dying lips of her father.
As she was very tender, being no more than five
years old, the corrupt air very easily seized upon her
little body, and caused her a sickness which sent her,
six months afterward, to the grave.

Her father being dead, they soon learned the news
of it at the Seminary, where they had carried her
back. Her teacher led her before the blessed Sacra-
ment, in order to have her pray to God for his soul.

88 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.29

eut eu iamais tant de iugement. On luy demanda fi
elle ne feroit pas bien aife de voir Noflre Seigneur,
napik nifadkiJia mifii kakichitdtz, r6pondit-elle, entiere-
ment i'ayme celuy qui a tout fait; & la deffus elle
expira, auec la ioye & les regrets de toutes ces
bonnes Meres.

L'embarras que la venue des vaiffeaux apporte,
nous fit reietter le Iubile de l'an paffe en vn temps
plus commode pour le gagner auec plus de repos, on
le publia quelques iours deuant la naiffance du
Sauueur. Les Chreftiens de S. Iofeph qui n'auoient
point encor oiiy parler de cette deuotion, s'y prepa-
rent auec vne affection toute extraordinaire. On
leur dift que les difpofitions pour obtenir ce pardon,
eftoient le ieufne, l'aumofne, & la priere ou l'oraifon:
pour le ieufne, ils le garderent bien aifement: car
ils n'auoient pas beaucoup de chofes a mager en ce
temps-la, vn bon-heur neantmoins le rendit plus me-
ritoire & plus remarquable. Vn Chaff eur [79] ayant
fait rencontre d'vn Caribou, qui n'eft pas tout a fait
fi gros qu'vn de nos bceufs de France, le pourfuiuit
& le rua par terre : la famine eltoit en leurs cabanes,
le defir de manger de la viande fraifche les tentoit
fortement, iamais neantmoins aucun Chreftien n'en
voulut goufter, les iours qu'on leur auoit ordonne de
ieufner, non pas le Chaff eur mefme; bien dauantage,
quelques Payens de fa cabane voyans cet exemple,
ne toucherent non plus a cette chair, que fi elle eut
efte empoifonnee.

Pour l'aumofne ils auoient plus de peine: car ils
ne fcauoient que donner, l'or & l'argent n'ont point
de cours parmy ces peuples, & leur pauurete les dif-
penfa ayfement d'eftre prodigues. Si fallut-il pour

It5461 RELATION OF 1643-46 89

Having offered her prayer, she turned toward her
teacher, and said to her: "Will Jesus be my
father, since I no longer have any other? The Virgin
likewise will be my mother, and you will be my
relatives ; my father told me so. ' ' She related to the
Mothers all that her father had recommended to her.

[78J Her fever, becoming more and more evident,
prostrated her so that she rose from it no more. She
wished to confess; the Father who heard her was
delighted therewith, not supposing that a child
whom he wished to console could ever have had so
much judgment. They asked her if she would not
be very glad to see Our Lord; napik nisadkiha missi
kakichitdtz, she answered, — " Entirely I love the one
who has made all;" and thereupon she expired, to
the joy and the regret of all those good Mothers.

The confusion which the coming of the vessels
occasions made us postpone the Jubilee of last year
to a time more convenient for obtaining it with more
leisure ; it was announced some days before the
nativity of the Savior. The Christians of St. Joseph,
who had not yet heard mention of this devotion,
prepared for it with most extraordinary affection.
They were told that the preparations for obtaining
this pardon were fasting, alms, and prayer or orisons ;
as for fasting, they observed it very easily, for they
had not many things to eat at that time ; a piece of
good fortune nevertheless rendered it more meritori-
ous and more remarkable. A Hunter [79] having
encountered a Caribou, which is not quite so large
as one of our oxen in France, pursued it and felled
it to the ground. Famine was in their cabins, and
the desire to eat fresh meat strongly tempted them ;
yet never did any Christian consent to taste it on the

90 LES RELATIONS DES J^SU/TES [Vol.29

contenter leur deuotion qu'ils accompliffent c6t ar-
ticle. Les vns apportoient quelques grains de Pour-
celaine, les autres vn petit morceau de chair; il y en
eut vn qui prefenta vn petit plat d'ecorce, plein de
raifms qu'il auoit achepte" des Francois. En vn mot,
on donna toutes leurs aumofnes a l'vn des Capitaines
plus zelez pour les diftribuer aux plus neceffiteux.

[80] Quant a l'oraifon, ils ne manquerent pas de
faire leurs Stations, & auec cela d'affifter toutes a vne
Proceffion affez facheufe & difficile qu'ils firent de-
puis faindt Iofeph iufques a Kebec, il y a enuiron vne
lieue & demie de chemin : elle fe fit le iour de faindt
Eitienne le landemain de Noel par vn temps extreme-
ment froid, ils marchoient tous deux a deux en bel
ordre, les enfans voulurent eftre de la partie. La
croix & la banniere marchoient deuant, les Peres qui
ont foin de cette petite Eglife, conduifoient leur
troupeau, ils entonnent des Hymnes en fortant de
l'Eglife, ils continuent leur Proceffion, recitans leur
Chappelet, & faifants d'autres prieres. Arriuans a
Kebec ils rauirent les Francois, leur premiere Sta-
tion fut en l'Eglife des Meres Vrfulines, oil ayans
prie Dieu, & chante quelques Cantiques fpirituels,
ils tirerent droit a la Paroiffe, ou le faindt Sacrement
eftoit expofe. Ils furent receus auec des motets
plein de piete qu'on chanta en l'honneur de celuy
qu'ils venoient adorer, lequel leur ayant donne fa
benedidtion par les mains du Preftre, ils pafferent a.
la troifiefme Station qui eftoit a l'Hofpital, ou fem-
blablement [81] ils prierent pour les fujets contenus
en la Bulle, touftours conduits & dirigez par leurs Pa-
iteurs. Au fortir de la, ils s'en retournent a ieun deux
a deux, come ils eftoient venus, concluans la derniere

164(5] RELATION OF 1645-46 91

days which had been appointed to them for fast-
ing,— not even the Hunter himself. Nay, more, —
some Pagans of his cabin, seeing this example,
touched that flesh no more than if it had been
poisoned.

As for alms, they had more difficulty; for they
knew not what to give. Gold and silver have no
currency among these peoples, and their poverty
easily dispensed them from being wasteful. Yet it
was necessary, in order to satisfy their devotion,
that they should fulfill this clause. Some brought a
few Porcelain beads, others a little piece of flesh ;
there was one who presented a small dish of bark,
full of raisins that he had bought from the French.
In a word, we gave all their alms to one of the
more zealous Captains, to distribute them to the most
necessitous.

[80] As for the prayers, they failed not to perform
their Stations, and all, besides, to take part in a
somewhat arduous and difficult Procession, which
they made from saint Joseph even to Kebec, — the
distance is about a league and a half. It was held
on the day of saint Stephen, the day after Christ-
mas, in extremely cold weather; they all walked,
two by two, in fine order; the children wished to be
of the company. The cross and the banner marched
before ; the Fathers who have charge of that little
Church led their flock. They intoned Hymns on
issuing from the Church ; they continued their
Procession, reciting their Rosaries, and offering other
prayers. Arriving at Kebec, they delighted the
French ; their first Station was in the Church of the
Ursuline Mothers; having there prayed to God, and
sung some spiritual Songs, they moved straight to

92 LES RELATIONS DES J ESUITES [Vol.29

adtion du Iubile" dans leur Eglife. Ceux qui auoient
veu le pays dans fa barbarie, iettans les yeux fur
vne telle deuotion, fur vne modeftie fi grande, voy-
ans des Barbares faire trois lieues a pied, dans vn
froid tres-piquant, & a ieun, pour gagner la remiffion
de leurs offences, rendoient mille loiianges au Dieu
du Ciel, qui verfe fes benedictions oil il luy plaift.

1646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 93

the Parish church, where the blessed Sacrament was
exposed. They were received with motets full of
piety, which were sung in honor of him whom they
came to adore ; when he had given them his bless-
ing, by the hands of the Priest, they proceeded to
the third Station, which was at the Hospital, where
likewise [81] they prayed for the objects contained
in the Bull, being continually led and directed by
their Pastors. Upon departing thence, they returned
fasting, — two by two, as they had come, — conclud-
ing the last act of the Jubilee in their own Church.
Those who had seen the country in its barbarism —
casting their eyes on such devotion, and so great a
modesty ; seeing Barbarians make three leagues on
foot, in a most piercing cold, and fasting, in order
to gain the remission of their sins — rendered a
thousand praises to the God of Heaven, who pours
his blessings where he pleases.

94 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

CHAPITRE VI.

DE LA RESIDENCE DE LA CONCEPTION AUX TROIS

RIUIERES.

LES trois Riuieres font l'abord de tous les peuples
de ces contr6es bons & mauuais : on y voit de
temps en temps des Sauuages, de toutes les
nations qui voguent fur le grand fleuue de faindt
Laurens, depuis fon emboucheure iufques [82] aux
Hurons, & au dela: cefke eftendue fait peut-eftre
quatre cens lieues, & dauantage.

Ce ramas de tant de peuples fi differents fait vne
grande confufion, & encore que les feuls Chreftiens
foient les plus cheris des Francois, on eft contraint
de tolerer les autres, & d'attendre le moment de leur
conuerfion.

Toutes les affemblees qu'on a faites auec les
Iroquois, ont efte tenue's aux trois Riuieres : deux ou
trois infignes Apoftats s'y font retirez: tous les
fripons des autres endroits y font venus paffer vne
partie de leurs temps : tous les curieux de fcauoir des
nouuelles yabordent: ce n'eft qu'vn flux & reflux
qui empefche beaucoup que la Foy ne prene racine.
Les Chreftiens cependant n'ont pas laifle de donner
des preuues de leur foy, & de leur conftance, nonob-
ftant les mauuais exemples qu'ils ont deuat les yeux,
& qui font quelquesfois trebucher les foibles.

Vn Infidelle cajola fi bien vne femme Chreftienne,
qu'il la prift pour fa feconde femme, les Francois
indignez de cefte action, luy deffendent 1 'entree du

1646] RELATION OF 1643-46 95

CHAPTER VI.

OF THE RESIDENCE OF LA CONCEPTION AT THREE

RIVERS.

THREE Rivers is the landing-place of all the
peoples of these regions, good and bad : one
sees there from time to time Savages of all the
nations which navigate the great river of saint Law-
rence, from its mouth even [82] to the Hurons, and
beyond; this length makes perhaps four hundred
leagues and more.

This gathering of so many tribes, so different,
causes great confusion; and though only the Chris-
tians are most cherished by the French, one is
constrained to tolerate the others, and to await the
time for their conversion.

All the assemblies which have been convened with
the Iroquois have been held at three Rivers ; two or
three notorious Apostates have retreated thither ; all
the rogues from other places have come to that place
to spend a part of their time ; and all those who are
curious to learn the news land there ; all this is but
an ebb and flow, which greatly hinders the Faith
from taking root. The Christians, however, have
not failed to give proofs of their faith and of their
constancy, notwithstanding the bad examples which
they have before their eyes, and which sometimes
cause the weak to stumble.

An Infidel so successfully cajoled a Christian
woman, that he took her for his second wife ; the

96 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

fort, & de leurs maifons: c£t homme forcene" [83] s'en
va dans le quartier des Sauuages, faire vn cry public
contre la priere, c'eft a dire contre la Foy, vfant de
menaces contre tous ceux qui fortiroient de leurs
Cabanes pour aller a la Meffe, ou a l'mftruction. Vn
Chreftien entendant ce difcours de fa Cabane, en fort
arme" d'vne faindte cholere, il anime fa voix, il crie,
il tempefte contre cet infolent, parle hautement de
la foy, donne courage aux Chreftiens, protefte que
les menaces des impudents ne l'ebranleront iamais,
en vn mot le Pay en, voyant ce torrent, fe retire
de peur que des paroles on ne vint a la violence,
n'efperant pas trouuer tant de courage parmy les
fiens pour le menfonge, qu'il en croyoit dans les
Chreftiens pour la verite.

Vne autre fois vn Chreftien voyant les defordres
qui fe commettoient dans ce melange de toute forte
de nations, & n'ayant pas d'autres armes que fa
parole, pour y refifter, il fortit en public, & fe pour-
menant felon leur couftume, parmy les Cabanes de
fes compatriottes, il harangua en ces termes.

Efcoutez, mes freres, c'eft a vous tous que i'ad-
dreffe ma parole, vous feauez [84] que ie fuis bap-
tife: fi quelqu'vn l'ignore, qu'il l'apprene auio[u]r-
d'huy de ma bouche, ie n'ayme ny les biens, ny
l'honneur, i'ayme la priere, i'honore la Foy, ie vou-
drois que tout le monde l'honoraft, tout n'eft rien: la
creance eft de prix, & de valeur: h vos oreilles
eftoient percees, la dodtrine qu'on nous enfeigne, y
entreroit, & fi vous n'auiez les yeux fermez, vous en
verriez la beaute: on ne voit qu'infolences dans nos
cabanes, les ieunes gens courent toutes les nuits, i'ar-
refterois bien ces defordres, fi i'auois du pouuoir fur

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 97

French, indignant at that action, forbid him entrance
to the fort and to their houses. This furious man
[83] proceeds to the quarter of the Savages, making
a public denunciation against prayer, — that is to say,
against the Faith, — using threats against all those
who should issue from their Cabins in order to go to
Mass or to instruction. A Christian, hearing this
speech from his Cabin, leaves it, armed with a holy
anger; he raises his voice, he shouts, he storms
against that insolent man ; he speaks highly of the
faith, gives courage to the Christians, protests that
the threats of the impudent will never shake him.
In a word, the Pagan, seeing this torrent, with-
draws, for fear that from words they might come to
violence, — not hoping to find so much courage among
his own, in behalf of lies, as he believed there was
among the Christians for the truth.

Another time, a Christian, seeing the lawless acts
which were committed in this mixture of every sort
of nations, and having no other arms than his
speech, in order to resist them, went out in public,
and — walking, according to their custom, among the
Cabins of his fellow-countrymen — he harangued in
these terms:

" Listen, my brothers, it is to you all that I ad-
dress my speech. You know [84] that I am bap-
tized ; if any one be ignorant thereof, let him learn
it to-day from my lips. I love neither goods nor
honor; I love prayer, and I honor the Faith, — I
would that all people might honor it. All is of no
importance, — belief is of price and of value. If
your ears were pierced, the doctrine which is
taught us would enter them ; and, if you had not
your eyes closed, you would see its beauty. One

98 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

vous. Tenez pour conftant que ces malices attireront
deffus nos tefles la cholere, & la vengeance de celuy
qui a tout fait. Pour vous autres qui auez receu le
Baptefme, & qui ne tenez pas voftre parole, vous
eftes des trompeurs, ou renoncez a voftre foy, ou
viuez conformement aux promeffes que vous auez
faites en voftre Baptefme. Si Ton vous retranche
de l'Eglife, fi on vous chafle comme des chiens, ie
me banderay le premier contre vous, fi vous ne quit-
tez vos defordres. Ses paroles pouffees d'vn bon
accent, & par vn homme d'authorite" eftonna les
inconftans, & confola bien fort les plus feruens, &
les plus courageux.

[85] La nuit fuiuante vn Chreftien qui auoit elte
banny de l'Eglife pour vn fcandale public, & qui
s'eftoit reconcilie" apres vne bonne penitence, emeu
de la force de ce difcours, en fit vn autre deuant des
apoftats, auec vn accent tout plein de cceur. Les
Sauuages font fort retenus en leurs paroles, deuant
leurs compatriotes. C'eft vne chofe rare qu'vn Capi-
taine mefme fe donne la liberte de reprendre les
fautes de fes gens, fi ce n'eft peut-eftre de quelque
ieuneffe. Cet home parla deuant les plus huppez,
& deuant les plus fuperbes de fa nation, en cette
forte. Celuy qui a promene fa parole dans la harague
qu'il nous a faite auiourd'huy, a parle" comme vne
perfonne qui croit veritablement : fon aage & fa
grande authority meritent que les fideles & les infi-
deles obei'ffent a fa voix, & fa perfeuerance en la Foy
oblige tous les Chreftiens de garder les promeffes
qu'ils ont faites a Dieu: pour moy qui ay donne
mauuais exemple, ie ne puis doner aucun poids a
mes paroles; fi neantmoins vous les regardez de

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 99

sees only insolent actions in our cabins; the young
people run about every night ; I would certainly stop
these disorders if I had power over you. Hold it as
certain that these mischiefs will draw upon our heads
the wrath and vengeance of him who has made all.
As for you others who have received Baptism, and
who do not keep your word, you are deceivers;
either renounce your faith, or live conformably to
the promises which you have made in your Baptism.
If you are cut off from the Church, if you are driven
out like dogs, I will be the first to take sides against
you unless you cease your disorders." His words —
uttered with much emphasis, and by a man of au-
thority— astonished the inconstant, and very greatly
consoled the more fervent and courageous.

[85] On the following night, a Christian who had
been banished from the Church for a public scandal,
and who had become reconciled after a thorough
penance, moved by the force of this address, made
another before some apostates, in a most earnest
tone. The Savages are very reserved in their words,
before their fellow-countrymen ; it rarely occurs
that even a Captain gives himself the liberty of
reproving the faults of his people, unless perhaps of
some youth. This man spoke before the most
adorned and the proudest of his nation, in this wise:
' He who has uttered his thoughts in the harangue
which he has made to us to-day, has spoken like a
person who truly believes: his age and his great
authority deserve that the faithful and the unfaith-
ful should obey his voice ; and his perseverance in
the Faith obliges all the Christians to keep the
promises which they have made to God. As for
me, who have set a bad example, I can give no weight

100 LES RELATIONS DES JESU/TES [Vol.29

bien pr£s, vous trouuerez qu'elles ne s'6cartent ny
d'vn colte" ny d'autre, mais que leur route eft toute
droite: i'ay peche, tout le [86] monde le fcait bien,
i'en ay demand^ pardon a Dieu, ie m'en fuis con-
fefTe, ie croy qu'il m'a fait raifericorde, & que le
peu de temps qui me relate iufques a la mort, m'eil
donne pour faire penitence de mes crimes, ie ne
puis affez admirer fa bonte. Mais ne dites pas que
C vous fuiuez mon exemple dans le vice, vous le
f uiurez par apres dans la penitence : ces paroles font
dangereufes, il les entend, il vous ecoute. s'il ne m'a
pas liure" au mauuais demon, c'efl vne bonte qui m'e-
flonne, de laquelle il n'a pas vfe enuers vne infinite
d'autres qui fe font perdus. Ne dites pas auffi que
vous aurez de l'efprit, quand vous aurez la telle
blanche, le demon vous preuiendra, il ne fera plus
temps de vouloir eftre fage quand vous ferez dans les
feux, les guerres, les maladies, & la mort mefme, font
les punitions de nos offenfes, & non pas de mauuais
effects de la Foy & des prieres, comme difent quel-
ques-vns: c'efl la priere qui dit a Dieu, arrefte ta
colere, ne decoche point tes fleches deffus nous,
donne nous le loifir d'auoir de l'efprit, chaffe les
maladies, deliure nous de la guerre: voila ce que
demandent iour & nuit les Peres pour nous autres,
c'efl ce [87] qu'ils nous confeillent de faire & de
pratiquer: fans la priere de ceux qui ayment Dieu, le
demon qui a enuie de nous perdre, nous auroit bien-
toft precipite dans la foffe pleine de feu. Ceux-la
font bien abufez qui croyent que la priere caufe les
maladies & auance la mort : celuy que nous prions,
c'eit celuy-la mefme qui donne la fante & la vie,
l'honneur qu'on luy rend, ne le prouoque pas a nous

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 101

to my words ; if, nevertheless, you look at them very
closely, you will find that they turn to neither one
side nor the other, but that their course is entirely
straight. I have sinned, — every [86] one knows it
well ; I have asked pardon for it from God, and I
have confessed. I believe that he has shown me
mercy, and that the little time which remains to me
until death is given me to do penance for my crimes ;
I cannot enough admire his goodness. But say not
that, if you follow my example in vice you will fol-
low it afterward in penance ; such words are danger-
ous,— -he hears them, he listens to you. If he has
not delivered me to the wicked demon, it is a kind-
ness which astonishes me, and which he has not
showed toward countless others who have ruined
themselves. Do not also say that you will have sense
when you shall have white heads; the demon will
prevent you, — there will no longer be time to wish
for wisdom when you are in the fires. Wars, sick-
nesses, and death itself, are the punishments for our
offenses, and not evil effects of the Faith and of
prayers, as some say. It is prayer which says to
God : ' Arrest thy wrath ; do not shoot thine arrows
upon us. Give us the leisure to have sense; drive
out diseases, and deliver us from war.' That is
what the Fathers ask day and night for us ; that is
[87] what they advise us to do and to practice.
Without the prayer of those who love God, the
demon who desires to destroy us would soon have
plunged us into the pit full of fire. Those are much
deceived who believe that prayer causes diseases and
hastens death, — he to whom we pray is the very
one who gives health and life ; the honor which is
rendered him does not provoke him to do us injury.

102 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

faire du mal. Sus done, que ceux qui ont peche,
facent penitence auec moy, & ceux qui n'ont point
faly leur Baptefme gardent conftamment leur parole
iufques a la mort.

Ie crois qu'il fera bien a propos de dire icy deux
mots de la conuerfion de cet home. Eftant follicite"
par vne femme, il la prit pnbliquement auec fa legi-
time: Dieu l'ayat chatie par vne bonne maladie, il
ouurit les yeux, mais pource que Ton craignoit fon
inconftance, dont il auoit defia donne" des indices, on
le laiffa fort long-temps comme vn excommunie : il
enuoya querir plufieurs fois quelques-vnsde nos Peres,
a toutes fes demandes point de refponfe : enfin comme
on creut qu'il eftoit veritablement touch e\ vn Pere le
va voir [88] dans fes grandes douleurs: Ah, mon
Pere, luy dift-il, ayez pitie de moy : ie ne puis, luy
repliqua le Pere, te faire entrer en l'Eglife, tu as
donne vn trop grand fcandale: Helas! mon Pere, ie
ne demande pas cela, ie ne fuis pas digne d'y ren-
trer, ie demande que mes pechez foient effacez par
la confeffion ; ie fuis extremement malade ; la mort
me fait peur, eftant encor charge de tous mes crimes :
le Pere voyant bien qu'il n'eftoit pas encor dans vn
fi grand danger, luy donna iour, le va trouuer au
temps prefix, luy prefte l'oreille: ce pauure homme
tire vn petit faiffeau de bois c5me vne botte d'allu-
mette, & le monftrant au Pere, luy dift: voila tous
mes pechez, ie les ay efcrits deffus ces bois a noftre
mode, de peur de m'en oublier: il fe confeffe auec
de grads regrets les yeux pleins de larmes, la bouche
pleine de fanglots, & le cceur tout remply de regrets
& de douleur. Apres fa confeffion, il raconta au
Pere comme il eftoit tombe dans l'abyfme de fes

1646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 103

Up then ! let those who have sinned do penance with
me ; and let those who have not defiled their Baptism
keep their word steadfastly, even till death."

I think that it will be quite proper to say here a
few words about this man's conversion. Being en-
ticed by a woman, he took her publicly, along with
his lawful wife. God having punished him with a
wholesome sickness, he opened his eyes; but, be-
cause they feared his inconstancy, of which he had
already given indications, he was abandoned a long
time, like one excommunicated. He sent, several
times, to ask for some of our Fathers, — to all his
requests, no response at all ; finally, as they believed
that he was truly touched, a Father went to see him
[88] in his great pains. "Ah, my Father," said
this man to him, " have pity on me." " I cannot,"
the Father replied to him, "take thee into the
Church: thou hast given too great a scandal."
" Alas, my Father, I do not ask that, — I am not
worthy to enter it ; I ask that my sins be blotted out
by confession. I am extremely sick ; death makes
me afraid, since I am still burdened with all my
crimes." The Father, seeing well that he was not
yet in so great a danger, assigns him a day, goes
to find him at the appointed time, and listens to him.
This poor man draws forth a little bundle of wood,
like a bunch of matches, and showing it to the
Father, said to him: " There are all my sins, I have
written them upon these pieces of wood, after our
fashion, for fear of forgetting them." He confesses
with great remorse, his eyes filled with tears, his
utterance choked with sobs, and his heart full of
regret and grief. After his confession, he related to
the Father how he had fallen into the abyss of his

104 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.29

pechez. I'ay, difoit-il, conferue" long-temps la blan-
cheur de mon Baptefme, i'ay porte long-temps le
flambeau qu'on me fit tenir tout allume fans l'eftein-
dre: cette femme qui m'a perdu [89] me recherchant,
ie la fuyois au commencement, mais petit a petit ie
pris plaifir en fon amide" : ie ne penfois en aucun
mal, iufques-la que fentant que mon cceur vouloit
eftre mef chant, ie la chaff ois d'aupres de moy, mais
elle n'alloit pas loin; auffi-toft elle paroiffoit deuant
mes yeux: enfin ie commen9ay a l'aymer, mon cceur
trembloit, me reprochant que ie quitterois la priere,
ie m'allois confeffer auffi-toft. ; mais ce demon me
pourfuiuant me perdit, ie vins a l'aymer tout de bon,
& voyant bien que ie ne ferois pas en repos aupres
de vous autres, ie vous quittay & m'en allay a
l'lfle, & de la aux Hurons: l'amour m'aueugloit; ie
pechois quelquefois fans remords, le plus fouuent la
crainte faififloit mon ame, ie m'en voulois quelque-
fois prendre a vous autres, tantoft ie vous meprifois,
puis ie vous exaltois, admirant voflre patience &
voftre bonte : car vos freres qui font dans les Hu-
rons, font la haut ce que vous faites icy bas ; ils paci-
fient toutes les diffentions, ils font des prefens pour
appaifer les mefchans, ils enfeignent le chemin du
Ciel: tout cela m'eftonnoit, & ie difois a mon ame,
tu t'en vas dans le feu, tu defobeis [90] a celuy qui a
tout fait. Eftant dans ces angoifTes ie tombe malade,
me voila dans des craintes £pouuentables, tous mes
pechez fe prefentent a. mes yeux, comme fi on me les
euft dit les vns apres les autres : ie les marquay tous
fur ces petits bois, ie demanday qu'on me rapportafl
icy bas, ie ne penfois qu'a vous autres que i'auois tant
m6prifez: ie difois a Dieu, tu fais bien de me faire

1646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 105

sins. " I did," said he, " preserve for a long time
the whiteness of my Baptism; I carried a long time
the torch which they made me hold, well lighted,
without extinguishing it. When that woman who
has ruined me [89] was endeavoring to gain me, I fled
from her, at first ; but little by little I took pleasure
in her friendship. I thought of no harm in that,
until I realized that my heart desired to be wicked ;
I drove her away from me, but she went not far, —
very soon, she appeared before my eyes. Finally I
began to love her; my heart trembled, reproaching
me that I would forsake prayer. I was going to con-
fess at once ; but this demon, pursuing me, ruined me.
I came to love her in good sooth; and, seeing well
that I would have no peace near you, I left you and
went away to the Island, and thence to the Hurons;
love was blinding me. I sinned sometimes without
remorse; more often, fear seized my soul. I some-
times wished to apply to you, — again, I despised
you. Then I exalted you, admiring your patience
and your goodness ; for your brothers who are among
the Hurons do up there what you do down here, —
they pacify all the dissensions, they make presents
to appease the wicked, they teach the way to Heav-
en. All that astonished me, and I said to my soul:
' Thou art going into the fire ; thou disobeyest [90]
him who has made all.' Being in such anguish, I
fell sick; indeed, I was in awful fears. All my
sins presented themselves to my eyes, as if they had
been told to me one after another; I marked them
all on these bits of wood. I asked to be brought
down here, — I thought only of you, whom I had so
much despised. I said to God: ' Thou doest well to
make me sick, — I have been the first to leave thee; I

106 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

malade, ie t'ay quitte" le premier, ie n'ay point d'ef-
prit, ie fentois des dotileurs horribles, ie criois dans
mon mal, i'ay merite" tout cela, tu faits bien, mais ne
me tue pas que ie ne me fois confeffe\ Ie croyois a
tous coups que i'allois defcendre au pais des demons:
Enfin quand ie me fuis veu proche de vous autres,
mes angoiff es ont efte" vn peu f oulagees : car encor
que vous me rebutaffiez, ie difois toufiours, ils ont
raifon, ils craignent que ie ne les trompe. Nikanis,
difoit-il au Pere, prie pour moy, dis luy qu'il aug-
mente mon mal, fi iamais il me prend enuie de le
quitter. On le tint encor fort long- temps dans cet
eftat de penitent, deuant que de le faire entrer dans
l'Eglife: il y eft maintenant bien refolu de n'en
fortir iamais, il difoit il n'y a pas long-temps [91] a
quelques ames froides : ah ! fi vous fcauiez quel
grand mal-heur c'eft d'eftre chaffe de l'Eglife, &
combien cela coufte d'angoiffes, vous vous donneriez
bien de garde de commettre chofe aucune qui vous fit
iamais tomber dans ce precipice: Dieu luy vueille
donner la perfeuerance.

Pour rentrer dans noftre difcours, les Chreftiens
fe voyans enuironnez de tant de difficultez, prirent
refolution pour fe mieux conferuer, de faire bande
a part dans leur grande chaffe pendant l'hyuer, &
dans les autres voyages qu'ils feroient pour leur
comerce. Vn Francois les ayant accompagnez, nous
tefmoigna au retour qu'il auoit efte rauy les voyant
viure en vrays Chreftiens, ne manquans iamais de
prier Dieu tous enfemble, gardans auffi eftroitement
le faindt Dimanche, comme s'ils euffent efte proches
de nos petites Eglifes.

Au retour de leur chaffe, ils fe caperent le plus

1646] RELA TION OF 1643-46 107

have no sense.' I felt horrible pains; I cried out in
my trouble: ' I have deserved all this, — thou doest
well; but kill me not until I have confessed.' I
thought every time that I was about to go down into
the country of the demons. Finally, when I saw my-
self near you, my agonies were somewhat relieved;
for, although you rejected me, I still said: ' They are
right; they fear that I may deceive them.' Nika-
nis," said he to the Father, " pray for me; tell him
that he shall increase my pain, if ever the desire
seize me to leave him." They kept him still very
long in that state of penitence, before having him
enter the Church ; he is in it now, firmly resolved
never to go out of it. He said, not long ago, [91] to
some cold souls : ' ' Ah ! if you knew what a great
misfortune it is to be driven out of the Church, and
how many pangs that costs, you would be very care-
ful not to commit anything which might ever cause
you to fall over this precipice." God grant to give
him perseverance.

To return to our discourse ; the Christians, seeing
themselves surrounded with so many difficulties,
took resolution, in order better to preserve them-
selves, to form a separate band in their great hunt
during the winter, and in the other journeys which
they should make for their trade. A Frenchman hav-
ing accompanied them, testified to us, on the return,
that he had been delighted at seeing them live as
true Christians, — never failing to pray to God all
together; also strictly keeping holy Sunday, as if
they had been near our little Churches.

On returning from their hunt, they camped as near
as they could to our Chapel ; the Pagans took offense
at this, casting at them a thousand taunts because

108 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

pres qu'ils puret de nollre Chappelle: les Payens
s'en formaliferent, leur donans mille brocards de ce
qu'ils ne s'eftoiet pas voulus ioindreaeux; c' eft la
couftume parmy ces peuples que les filles eftant
malade de leur maladie ordinaire, fe feparent [92] des
autres, comme faifoient les Iuifues. Les Infidelles
voyant nos Neophytes vnis enfemble, leur difoient en
gauffant qu'ils faifoient bien a la fa9on des femmes
de cabaner a part, ils fouffroient patiemment ces
rifees, portans compaffion a leur aueuglement : que
pouuons nous apprendre de vous autres, refpondit vn
Chreftien, fmon des medifances & des gaufferies? ne
vous eftonnez done pas fi nous nous mettons a l'ecart.
II n'y a terre au monde fi feche & fi aride ou il ne
paroiffe quelque petit brin de verdure. La petite
Eglife des trois Riuieres voit das ce flus & reflus des
Sauuages, qui l'abordent, vne nation toute fimple,
toute candide & bien eloignee de la fuperbe: ce
peuple vient du fonds de terre, il paffe fa vie dans
l'innocence de la chaffe & de la pefche, ne voyant
les Francois qu'vne ou deux fois l'annee pour achep-
ter quelques neceffitez en contr'ef change de leurs
pelteries. Ils tirent leur nom du mot Attikameg, qui
fignifie vne efpece de poiffon que nous appellons le
poiffon blanc, pource qu'en effet il eft tout luifant,
& tout blanc. Ces pauures poiffons blancs fe vien-
nent ietter dans les filets [93] de l'Euangile, autant
de fois qu'ils approchent des riues du grand fleuue de
fainct Laurens. Ils compofent maintenant vne pe-
tite Eglife volante, qui n'a rien de plus ferme ny de
plus conftant que la Foy, & que l'exercice des vertus
qu'ils conferuent d'autant plus ayfement qu'ils font
eloignez des ennemis, qui les leur pourroient derober.

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 109

they had not desired to join them. It is the custom
among these peoples that the girls, when sick with
their usual illness, separate themselves [92] from
the others, as did the Jewish women.8 The Infidels,
seeing our Neophytes united together, said to them,
jeering, that they were acting quite in the manner
of the women, to lodge apart. They suffered these
mockeries patiently, feeling compassion for their
blindness. " What can we learn from you others,"
answered a Christian, " except slanders and jeers?
Be not astonished, then, if we place ourselves apart."

There is no land in the world so dry and so arid
where there does not appear some little spray of
green. The little Church of three Rivers sees, amid
this ebb and flow of the Savages who approach it, a
nation altogether simple and candid, and very far
from haughtiness : these people come from an inland
region; they spend their lives in the innocence of
hunting and fishing, seeing the French only once or
twice in the year, in order to buy some necessaries
in exchange for their peltries. They derive their
name from the word Attikameg, which signifies a
kind of fish that we call " the white fish," because
it is, in truth, all shining and all white. These poor
white fish come to cast themselves into the nets [93]
of the Gospel, as many times as they approach the
banks of the great river of saint Lawrence. They
now compose a little migratory Church, which has
nothing more fixed or more constant than the Faith,
and the practice of virtue, — which they preserve all
the more easily since they are removed from the
enemies who might steal these from them.

They carry with them a list or calendar of Feasts
and of Sundays, and of all the days of the week;

110 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

lis portent auec eux vn catalogue, on vn calendrier
des Feftes, & des Dimanches, & de tous les iours de
la femaine: pas vn d'eux ne s'eft trompe cette ann6e
en fon calcul. Outre les prieres du foir, & du
matin, ils s'affemblent touts les Dimanches dans vne
cabane, pour chanter quelques Hymnes fpirituels, &
pour reciter tous enfemble leur chappelet. Que fi
quelqu'vn d'entr'eux a la parolle en main, il anime
les autres a obeir a celuy qui a tout fait, & a quitter
leur anciennes fuperftitions.

Tout l'hyuer, ils fe confolent dansl'efperance qu'ils
ont de fe venir confeffer & communier au Printemps,
ils en font de mefme pendant l'Efte\ fe difpofans de
nous venir voir a l'Automne: ils decouurent leur
faute auec vne candeur admirable. [94] On diroit
veritablement que le peche d'Adam n'eft point par-
uenu iufques a ces peuples, tant ils font eloignez des
malices qui fe retreuuent parmy les plus ieunes
enfans.

Leur premier Capitaine, nomme Paul de Tam^rat,
eflant arriue" aux trois Riuieres, s'en alia vifiter le
Pere qui a foin de cette refidence, & luy dift deuant
tous fes gens. Mon Pere, fera-ce done a ce coup
que ie communieray? tu m'as toufiours refuf6 ce
bon-heur; tu m'as remis du Printemps a. l'Automne,
i'ay eu peur pendant tout l'Elte de mourir deuant
que Ton m'ait porte a la bouche cette nourriture de
nos ames. Dieu m'a conferue la vie, me voicy de
retour, que diras-tu maintenant? ne m'afflige pas
plus long-temps. Voyla le compliment que fit cet
homme a fon abord, plus aymable cent fois que ces
mines, & ces grands abaiffemens de la Cour qui n'ont
bien fouuent que de l'apparence.

1 646J R EL A TION OF 1645 -46 111

and not one of them has erred this year in his
reckoning. Besides the evening and the morning
prayers, they assemble every Sunday in a cabin in
order to sing some spiritual Hymns, and to recite,
all together, their rosaries. If there is among them a
good speaker, he incites the rest to obey him who has
made all, and to give up their former superstitions.

All winter, they console themselves in the hope
which they have of coming to confess and receive
communion in the Spring; they do likewise during
the Summer, preparing themselves to come and see
us in the Autumn ; they reveal their faults with an
admirable candor. [94] One might truly say that
the sin of Adam has not reached these peoples, so
far are they removed from the mischiefs which are
encountered among the youngest children.

Their first Captain, named Paul de Tamourat, hav-
ing arrived at three Rivers, went to visit the Father
who has charge of that residence, and said to him,
before all his people : ' ' My Father, shall it be at
this time, then, that I shall receive communion?
Thou hast always refused me this happiness; thou
hast put me off from Spring to Autumn ; I was afraid
during all the Summer of dying before they had con-
veyed to my lips that food of our souls. God has
preserved my life; now that I am here again, what
wilt thou say now? Do not grieve me longer."
Such was the salutation made by that man at his
landing, — a hundred times more pleasing than those
airs and those great abasements of the Court, which
very often have nothing but appearance.

The wife of this Captain wastes no more words
than does her husband ; she brings to the Father her
two daughters, and urges him with all her power to

112 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

La femme de ce Capitaine, ne perdit non plus de
paroles que fon mary : elle amene au Pere fes deux
filles, le preffe tant qu'elle peut d'accorder a la mere,
& aux enfans ce pain de vie, elle demande [95] qu'on
l'inftruife, ft elle ne l'eft pas fuffifament. Vn Same-
dy au foir, le Pere l'ayant fort examinee auec quel-
ques autres, elles creurent que c'eftoit pour Commu-
nier le landemain, elles viennent done a la Meffe en
noftre Chappelle, fe prefentent a vn Pere pour les
confeffer: mais comme il n'entendoit point leur
langue, il les renuoya. Elles fe tirent a quartier,
entendent deux Meffes, demeurent en la Chappelle
iufques a Vefpres, le Pere, qu'elles attendoient, & qui
auoit celebre la Meffe, en la Paroilfe, furuenant, les
trouue les mains iointes deuant l'Autel. II leur
demande ce qu'elles font la, nous t'attendons, mon
Pere, pour nous confeffer, & communier. Quoy
done fit le Pere, ne fcauez vous pas bien qu'on ne
communie pas apres auoir mange? (il croyoit qu'elles
vinffent de leur cabanes) nous le fcauons bien, ref-
pondent-elles, nous n'auons point mang6 depuis hier
amidy: nous fommes icy depuis le matin, efperans
toufiours que tu nous ferois communier. Mais pour-
quoy demeuriez vous fi long-temps, voyas que ie ne
venois pas: helas! dift vne bonne vefue, nous y re-
fterions volontiers tout le iour pour [96] remercier le
bon Iesvs des graces qu'il nous a fait: nous y vien-
drons fouuent, nous ne fcaurions nous ennuyer en la
maifon des prieres. Le Pere touche iufques aux
larmes leur accorda le lendemain matin, ce qu'elles
fouhaittoient auec tant d'ardeur.

Ayant donne iour a quelques-vns de fe venir con-
feffer, vne bonne femme fe vint excufer demandant

1646] RELATION OF 1643-46 113

grant the mother and the children that bread of life ;
she asks [95] to be instructed, if she is not sufficient-
ly so. One Saturday evening, the Father having
thoroughly examined her, along with some others,
they supposed that it was in order to receive Com-
munion the next day: they came, accordingly, to
Mass in our Chapel, and presented themselves to a
Father to confess them ; but, as he did not under-
stand their language, he sent them away. They
withdraw to one side, hear two Masses, and remain
in the Chapel until Vespers. The Father whom
they were expecting, and who had celebrated Mass
in the Parish church, coming in, finds them with their
hands joined before the Altar; he asks them what
they do there. " We are awaiting thee, my Father,
for confession, and to receive communion." " What
then?' said the Father, "do you not know well
that one does not receive communion after having
eaten ? ' (He supposed that they came from their cab-
ins.) " We know it well," they answer; " we have
not eaten since yesterday at noon; we have been
here since morning, continually hoping that thou
wouldst have us receive communion." " But why
did you stay so long, seeing that I did not come? '
" Alas! " said a good widow, "we would gladly stay
here all day, in order [96] to thank the good Jesus
for the favors which he has granted us. We will
come here often ; we cannot grow weary in the
house of prayers." The Father, touched even to
tears, granted them the next morning what they
desired with so much ardor.

Having set a day for some to come and confess, a
good woman came to excuse herself, asking a longer
term in order to prepare herself. ' ' How ? ' said

114 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

vn plus long terme pour fe preparer. Comment, dift
le Pere, ne fcauois tu pas bien des hyer que tu deb-
uois te confeffer auiourdhuy? ne t'ays-je pas veu
quafi toute I'apr6difn6e a la Chappelle! qu'as-tu fait
pendant tout ce temps-la? I 'ay penfe\ repond-elle, a
mes pechez, i'y penfay hier quafi tout le iour, i'y
veux penfer iufques a demain, & apres tout peut-
eftre que ie ne fairay pas comme il faut. Ie vou-
drois bien que mon coeur ne fut plus mechant du
tout, ie fuis bien marrye d'auoir fafche Dieu. Au
refte comme ces bonnes ames ne font point de diffi-
culty de s'ouurir, fes plus gros pechez efkoient d'a-
uoir efte" trop trifle, voyant quelques-vns moins por-
tez a prier Dieu, de s'eftre voulu fafcher contre eux.
Elle fe confeffa auec vne candeur [97] rauiffante : &
comme le Pere luy donnoit vne penitence trop legere
a fon gre, elle s'en plaignit, & luy dift: ie ne
laifferay pas d'adioufter d'autres prieres; en effet
elle demeura plus d'vne heure a l'Eglife, apres fa
confeffion.

Elle a gagne* fon mari a Iesvs-Christ, cet homme
qui eftoit fort rude auant fon Baptefme, eft deuenu
docile & pliable comme vn enfant: la benediction
du Ciel eft veritablement fur cette famille, cette
bonne femme amena fa fille au Pere qui l'auoit
baptifee, pour receuoir fa benediction: cet enfant qui
n'a que trois ans portoit vn petit pacquet fur fa tefte.
La mere prit la parole, voicy mon Pere, ta petite
fille qui te fait ce prefent, pour te faire fouuenir de
prier Dieu pour elle, arm qu'il luy donne de l'efprit
pour bien retenir les prieres: c'eftoit vne peau de
Cerf, gentiment accommodee que le Pere rendit a
P enfant pour luy faire vne petite robe. La veritable

1646J RELATION OF 1645-46 115

the Father, " didst thou not know well, as early as
yesterday, that thou wert to confess to-day? Did I
not see thee nearly all the afternoon at the Chapel?
What hast thou done during all that time?" "I
have been thinking," she answers, " of my sins; I
thought of them yesterday, nearly all the day. I
intend to think of them even till to-morrow ; and,
after all, perhaps I shall not do as I ought. I would,
indeed, that my heart were no longer wicked at all ;
I am very sorry to have displeased God." However,
as these good souls make no difficulty in revealing
themselves, her greatest sin was, that she had been
too sad at seeing certain persons less inclined to pray
to God, — so that she had allowed herself to be angry
at them. She confessed with a charming candor;
[97] and, when the Father gave her a penance too
light to suit her, she complained of it, and said to
him, " I will not fail to add other prayers; " indeed,
she remained more than an hour at the Church, after
her confession.

She has gained her husband to Jesus Christ.
This man, who was very rough before his Baptism,
has become docile and pliable as a child : the bless-
ing of Heaven is truly upon this family. The good
woman brought her daughter to the Father who had
baptized her, in order to receive his blessing; this
child, who is only three years old, carried a little
bundle on her head. The mother began to speak:
" Here, my Father, is thy little girl, who makes
thee this present, in order to remind thee to ask God
for her, that he may give her sense to retain the
prayers well." It was a Deerskin, neatly prepared,
which the Father gave back to the child in order to
make a little dress for her. True innocence is among

116 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

innocence eft parmy ces peuples, ie dirois volontiers
que dans la France on deuient ignorant pour trop
fcauoir, & que pour trop vouloir on ne veut rien : car
en verite ce qu'o pourfuit auec tant de feu, n'eft
rien qu'vn neant.

[98] La belle-mere de cette bonne femme, paffe
encore fa bru en deuotion, en candeur, & en piete\
Le fainCt Efprit luy a donne vne telle aff edtion pour
conferuer la purete de fon cceur, qu'elle ne manque
pas de fe cofeffer tous les huidt iours, non pas aux
prefixes: car elle n'en a point dans ces grands bois;
mais au Souuerain Pontife. La nuidt qui precede le
Dimanche, lors que tout le monde eft dans vn pro-
fond fommeil, elle fe leue, fe met a genoux, examine
fa confcience, & puis elle fait fa confeffion a Dieu, en
la mefme facon qu'elle fait deuant vn Pere: elle de-
mande pardon, elle fait vne penitence, elle prie Dieu
qu'il luy face la grace de fe fouuenir de toutes fes
offenfes pour les dire puis apres a fon confeffeur.
On ne croiroit pas auec quels fentimens elle les
explique: ie fuis, dit-elle, par fois vne vraye chienne,
ie fais plufieurs actions fans diriger mon intention.
Ie vay querir du bois fans penfer que c'eft pour Dieu.
Ie fuis comme ces pourceaux qui grongnent inceffa-
ment: car ie me plainds par fois d'vn mal de tefte
qui me trauaille, & qui me fait fouffrir affez fouuent.

Elle a vne fi grande tendreffe de confcience, [99]
que la feule ombre du peche luy fait peur. L'eftime
qu'elle fait des perfonnes qui luy parlent de Dieu, &
qui l'inftruifent, eft fi grande, que vous diriez qu'elle
ecoute vn Ange, quand elle prefte l'oreille a vn
Pere : c'eft ce qui la rend zelee pour le falut de fes
compatriotes, notament de fa famille, qui eft affez
nombreufe.

1 646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 117

these peoples: I would fain say that in France one
becomes ignorant through knowing too much, and
that for wishing too much, one wishes nothing; for,
in truth, what is pursued with so much ardor is only-
nothingness.

[98J The mother-in-law of that good woman sur-
passes even her daughter-in-law in devotion, in can-
dor, and in piety. The holy Ghost has given her
such a desire to preserve the purity of her heart,
that she fails not to confess every week, — not to the
priests, for she has none of them in those great
woods, but to the Sovereign Pontiff. In the night
which precedes Sunday, when every one is in pro-
found sleep, she rises, kneels, examines her con-
science, and then makes her confession to God in the
same way that she does before a Father ; she asks
pardon, she does a penance, she asks God that he
may give her the grace to recall all her offenses,
in order to tell them afterward to her confessor. One
would not believe with what feelings she explains
them; " I am," she says, " sometimes a very dog; I
do many acts without directing my intention : I go to
fetch wood, without thinking that it is for God. I
am like those swine which incessantly grunt ; for I
sometimes complain of a headache which worries
me, and which very often makes me suffer."

She has so great a tenderness of conscience [99]
that the mere shadow of sin makes her afraid. The
esteem in which she holds persons who speak to her
of God, and who instruct her, is so great that you
would say that she listens to an Angel, when she
lends ear to a Father ; this is what renders her zealous
for the salvation of her fellow-countrymen, — nota-
bly of her own family, which is quite numerous.

118 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

Son mari n'a pas moins de ferueur, il fait plus
pour la gloire de Noftre Seigneur, dans fon pays,
que le plus zele Miffionnaire de la Nouuelle-France.
II n'y a pas long-temps que de ieunes frippons Algon-
quins, eftans entrez fur le foir dans fa cabane, pour
badiner & cajoler, il les aduertift doucement de leur
deuoir: mais voyant qu'ils ne s'arreftoient point pour
fa douceur, il leur dift d'vn ton fee: fortez d'icy, &
apprenez qu'il n'y a perfonne en ma cabane qui ne
croye, & qui ne craigne Dieu. Les paroles rudes
font parmy les Sauuages, ce que les baftonnades
fairoient en France parmy les infolens.

La bonne vie, & le zele de ces nouueaux Chre-
ftiens, repand la Foy de Iesvs-Christ, bien
auant dans les nations plus eloigners. Des perfonnes
qui n'ont [ioo] iamais oiiy parler aucun Pere de noftre
compagnie, nous demandent le faindt Baptefme.
Quand nous les voulons inftruire, nous trouuons
qu'ils ont la connoiffance de nos myfteres, & qu'ils
fcauent les prieres, & l'exercice d'vn bon Chreftien:
cela fans mentir, eft de grande confolation.

Vn Capitaine d'vn pays plus haut que les Attika-
megues, s'eft venu prefenter au Pere, auec toute fa
famille, pour apprendre de fa bouche ce dont il auoit
oiiy parler dans les grands bois de fon pays. II eft
demeure tout exprez trois fepmaines, aupres de luy,
pour fe faire inftruire. On n'a baptife que fa fille
aifnee, a laquelle on a donne commiffion d'apprendre
les prieres a fon pere, a fon mari, & atous ceux de fa
cabane. Deux Canots font arriuez d'vne autre nation
dont nous n'auons point encore oiiy parler: ce font
des vifages nouueaux qui paroiflent pour la premiere
fois parmy les Francois. Si toft qu'ils ont mis pied

1646] RELA TION OF 1643 -46 119

Her husband has no less fervor ; he does more for
the glory of Our Lord in his country than the most
zealous Missionary of New France. Not long ago,
some young rogues of Algonquins, having entered
his cabin toward evening, in order to banter and
cajole, he warned them gently of their duty ; but,
seeing that they did not stop for his gentleness, he
said to them in a dry tone: " Go out from here, and
learn that there is no one in my cabin who does not
believe, and who does not fear God." Severe words
effect among the Savages what good drubbings would
do in France among the insolent.

The good life and the zeal of these new Christians
spread the Faith of Jesus Christ far within the
more distant nations. Persons who have [100] never
heard any Father of our society speak, ask us for
holy Baptism. When we wish to instruct them, we
find that they have knowledge of our mysteries, and
that they know the prayers and the practice of a
good Christian ; that, without deceit, is a source of
great consolation.

A Captain, from a country above the Attikamegues,
came to present himself to the Father, with his whole
family, in order to learn from his lips that which he
had heard mentioned in the great woods of his own
country. He remained three weeks near him, ex-
pressly in order to be instructed. We baptized only
his eldest daughter, whom we commissioned to teach
the prayers to her father, to her husband, and to all
those of her cabin. Two Canoes have arrived from
another nation of which we have not yet heard men-
tion ; these are new faces, which appear for the first
time among the French. As soon as they landed,
they came to seek " the one who prays and who

120 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

a terre, ils font venus chercher celuy qui prie, & qui
initruit : c'eft le nom que les Eftrangers donnent aux
Peres, afin, difoient-ils, d'apprendre le chemin du
Ciel: cette enuie leur a [101] pris pour auoir veu &
entendu quelques Sauuages, qui ont communication
auec nos Neophytes. Dieu eft la bonte mefme, qu'il
foit beny a iamais: comme il connoit qu'il n'y a force
humaine qui puiffe courir ces grandes forefts, &
ramaffer ces pauures brebis 6garees, & cachees dans
des montagnes, dans des bois, & dans des froids epou-
uentables, il les touche luy mefme, & les conduit
comme par la main aux fources de la vie, qui font
les Sacrements de fon Eglife.

De trente cinq Canots qui font venus de ces con-
trees, on n'a baptife que 37. ou 38. perfonnes. On
ne fcauroit croire : combien il eft important de ietter
de folides fondements de la Foy.

Entre ces Canots il en eft venu quelques-vns d'vne
nation appellee Kapiminakb'etiik, lefquels nous ont
affurez que leurs voifms auoient efte" vifitez par des
Sauuages, qui iamais n'ont paru en ces contrees, &
qui iamais n'auoient veu aucune des marchandifes
qu'on apporte en ce nouueau monde. Ils difent
plufieurs chofes de la multitude des hommes de leur
nation, & de leurs f aeons de faire: nous en appren-
drons des nouuelles auec [102] le temps : ils font fujets
du grand Dieu, ils le viendront reconnoiftre auffi bien
que les autres, il n'y a point de clairon fi retentiffant
que celuy de l'Euangile, il faut qu'il fe face entendre
aux quatre coins du monde.

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 121

instructs," — that is the name which the Strangers
give to the Fathers, — for the purpose, they said, of
learning the way to Heaven. This desire has [101]
possessed them through having seen and heard some
Savages who have communication with our Neo-
phytes. God is goodness itself; may he be blessed
forever. As he knows that there is no human
might which can scour these great forests and gather
up these poor sheep, — gone astray and hidden in
the mountains, in the woods, and in frightful cold, —
he touches them himself, and leads them, as by
his hand, to the sources of life, which are the Sacra-
ments of his Church.

Of thirty-five Canoes which have come from
those regions, we have baptized only 37 or 38 per-
sons. One cannot believe how important it is to lay
solid foundations for the Faith.

Among these Canoes, there have come some from
a nati' n called Kapiminakwetiik, who have assured
us that their neighbors had been visited by Savages
who have never appeared in these regions, and who
had never seen any of the wares which are brought
into this new world. They relate many things
concerning the multitude of the men of their nation,
and of their customs; we shall learn tidings of them,
in course of [102] time. They are subject to the
great God; they, as well as the others, will come to
acknowledge him. There is no bugle so resonant
as that of the Gospel ; it must make itself heard in
the four corners of the world.

122 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

CHAPITRE VII.

DE LA MISSION DE SAINCTE CROIX, A TADOUSSAC.

CE que nous appellons Tadouffac, eft nome des
Sauuages Sadilege, c'eft vn lieu plein de
rochers & fi hauts, qu'on diroit que les Geans
qui vouluret autresfois combatre les Cieux, auroient
iette en cet endroit, les fondemens de leur efcalade.
Le grand fleuue S. Laurens fait quafi dans ces rochers
vne baye ou vne ance qui fert de port & d'affeurance
aux nauires qui voguent en ces contrees : nous appel-
los cette baye Tadouffac. La nature la rendue fort
commode pour l'ancrage des vaiffeaux; elle la baftie
en rond & mife a l'abry de tous les vents: on comp-
toit autresfois [103] fur les riues de ce port, trois
cens guerriers ou chaff eurs effedtifs, qui faifoient
enuiron auec leurs families douze ou quinze cens
ames. Ce petit peuple eftoit fort fuperbe ; mais Dieu
le voulant difpofer a receuoir fon Fils, l'a humilie
par des maladies qui l'ont quafi tout extermin6: ces
coups neantmoins font fauorables, pendant que fa
iuftice maffacroit les corps au grand deluge du
monde, fa mifericorde alloit ramaffant les ames peni-
tentes: nous pourrions dire le mefme auec propor-
tion, que fa colere mettant a mort vne partie des
Sauuages par les guerres & par les epidimies, fa
bonte donnoit aux autres vne vie qu'il faudroit
chercher au trauers de mille morts.

C'eft ce que nous auons veu de nos yeux: car ces

1646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 123

CHAPTER VII.

OF THE HOLY CROSS MISSION AT TADOUSSAC.

WHAT we call Tadoussac is named by the Sav-
ages Sadilege; it is a place full of rocks,
and so high, that one might say that the
Giants who formerly sought to combat the Heavens,
might have laid in this place the foundations of their
escalade. The great river St. Lawrence makes, as
it were, in these rocks a bay or cove, which serves as
a secure harbor for the ships which sail in these
regions; we call this bay Tadoussac.9 Nature has
rendered it very convenient for the anchorage of
vessels ; she has formed it like a circle, and sheltered
it from all the winds. There were reckoned, for-
merly, [103] on the shores of this port, three hun-
dred warriors or effective hunters, who made with
their families about twelve or fifteen hundred souls.
This little people was very proud ; but God, wishing
to incline it to receive his Son, has humbled it by
diseases which have almost entirely exterminated it.
These blows, nevertheless, are beneficent ; while his
justice was slaying bodies at the great deluge of the
world, his mercy continued to gather up the peni-
tent souls. We might say relatively the same, —
that, his wrath putting to death a part of the Sav-
ages by wars and epidemics, his kindness gave to
others a life which must be sought amid a thousand
deaths.

That is what we have seen with our own eyes : for

124 LES RELA TIONS DES j£SUITES [Vol. 29

pauures gens battus de quatite* de maladies & recrus
des fatigues de la guerre, fe font enfin iettez au port
de la vie & de la paix : ils fe font rendus a I E s v s -
Christ, qui f emble les vouloir repeupler par vn
bon nombre de Sauuages qui abordet la de diuers
endroits, pour voir de leurs yeux ce qu'ilsapprennent
par leurs oreilles qu'il y a des hommes baftis comme
eux qui prechent & qui publient [104] les grandeurs
de Dieu, & qui enfeignent le chemin du Ciel. II
faut confeffer que depuis cinq ans ces bons Neophytes
ont excelle en ferueur & en deuotion, mais voulant
cette ann6e courir trop vifte, ils ont bronche, exce-
dans du colte qu'on n'auroit pas attendu.

Ie penfe auoir leu autresfois que le fieur de Ioin-
uille qui a efcrit la vie de S. Louys, fe treuuant dans
vne grande tempefte fur la mer, fes foldats & fes
mattelots crians que le vaifTeau alloit perir, fe iette-
rent a fes pieds & luy demanderent l'abfolution de
leurs pechez: mais penfez-vous, leur dift-il, que i'aye
ce pouuoir? Qui l'aura done, Monfieur, repondent-
ils, puis qu'il n'y a point de Preflre dans le nauire?
A cette repartie, il eleua fa voix: Or fus ie vous
abfous de tout le pouuoir que i'en ay, ie ne fcay pas
fi i'en ay, mais fi i'en ay, vous eftes abfous. Cette
bonne fimplicite Gauloife, quoy que iointe auec vn
peu trop d'ignorance, pouuoit eftre agreable a Dieu,
pour l'humilite qui l'accompagnoit. Les Sauuages
de Tadouffac font tombez cet hyuer dans le mefme
erreur : fe voyans dans leurs grands bois eloignez de
leur Pere, & fouhaitans d'ailleurs auec [105] paffion
d'entendre la faindte Meffe, l'vn d'eux fe prefenta
pour en exprimer les faindtes ceremonies, auec tout
l'appareil & toute la deuotion que peut auoir vn

1646J RELATION OF 1645-46 125

these poor people, assailed by many diseases, and
worn out with the fatigues of war, have finally thrown
themselves into the haven of life and peace. They
have given themselves up to Jesus Christ, who
seems to wish to repeople this tribe with a goodly
number of Savages who land there from various
places, in order to see with their own eyes that which
they learn with their ears, — that there are men
formed like them, who preach and who publish [104]
the greatness of God, and who teach the way to
Heaven. It must be admitted that, for five years,
these good Neophytes have excelled in fervor and in
devotion; but wishing, this year, to run too fast,
they have stumbled, — going to excess in a direction
that one would not have expected.

I think that I once read this about the sieur de
Joinville, who wrote the life of St. Louys.10 Being
in a great storm on the sea, his soldiers and sailors,
crying out that the vessel was about to perish, cast
themselves at his feet, and asked him for absolution
from their sins. " But think you," said he to them,
"that I have this power?' "Who will have it,
then, Monsieur," they answer, " since there is no
Priest in the ship?" At this reply, he raised his
voice: " Well then, I absolve you with all the power
that I have for it ; I know not whether I have any,
but, if I have it, you are absolved." That good
Gallic simplicity, though joined with a little too
much ignorance, might be acceptable to God for the
humility which accompanied it. The Savages of
Tadoussac have fallen this winter into the same
error; seeing themselves in their great forests, at a
distance from their Father, and passionately desir-
ing, moreover, [105] to hear holy Mass, one of

126 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

efprit trop feruent; ce n'eft pas tout, le defir de fe
confefler les preffant, vne femme aag£e voyant que
les hommes ne leur preftoient point l'oreille, fe
prefente pour exercer cet office. Ce zele indifcret fut
approuue" de quelques-vns, auec plus de fimplicite' &
d'ignorance que de Theologie: mais feulement pour
les perfonnes de fon fexe.

De cette indifcretion ils paflent a vne autre: fi
quelqu'vn faifoit quelque faute, ils le faifoient venir
publiquement en leur affemblee, & apres luy auoir
reproche fon peche deuant tout le monde, ils le
fufligeoient auec vne cruaute qui refTentoit encor
fa barbaric

Leur ieufne paffoit les deux ou trois iours fans
manger : en vn mot le zele fans la fcience eft vn mau-
uais guide. Leur ferueur indifcrete paffa de la piete*
dans la police exterieure : ils f e vont imaginer que
pour eftre bons Chreftiens, ils doiuent viure tout a
fait a la Francoife, & fur cette penfee ils font les
polis, ils rendent les [106] honneurs a leur Capitaine
qu'ils voyent rendre a Mr le Gouuerneur par les Fran-
cois, ils font vne cabane a part pour prendre leurs
repas, ils dreffent des tables, ils font manger les
hommes enfemble, & les femmes a part: Et comme
ils auoient remarque que les Francois ne mangeoient
pas tout ce qui leur eftoit prefente, ceux qui fer-
uoient a table, ne donnoient pas le loifir notamment
aux femmes de prendre fuffifamment leur refection ;
perfonne cependant ne difoit mot, toutes ces fmgeries
paffoient pour des myfteres. Les Sauuages & les
Francois en matiere de complimens tiennent les deux
extremitez: ceux-la font fades & ruftaux dans le peu
de refpedt qu'ils fe portent les vns aux autres, & les

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 127

them presented himself, in order to express its
sacred ceremonies with all the solemn preparation
and all the devotion that an over-fervent mind can
experience. This is not all; the desire for confes-
sion urging them, an aged woman, seeing that the
men did not lend ear to them, presents herself to ex-
ercise that office. This indiscreet zeal was approved
by some, with more simplicity and ignorance than
Theology, — but only in behalf of persons of her own
sex.

From this indiscretion they passed to another : if
any one committed some fault, they made him come
publicly to their assembly; and, after having
reproached him with his sin before all the people,
they flogged him with a cruelty which still savored
of its barbarism.

Their fasting covered two or three days without
eating ; in a word, zeal without knowledge is a bad
guide. Their indiscreet fervor passed from piety
into external discipline ; they begin to imagine that,
in order to be good Christians, they ought to live
altogether in the French fashion; and, upon this
thought, they act the polite. They render the [106]
honors to their Captain which they see rendered to
Monsieur the Governor by the French ; they make a
cabin apart, in which to take their meals; they set
up tables ; they make the men eat together, and the
women separately ; and, as they had remarked that
the French did not eat all that was offered them,
those who served at table did not give the leisure,
especially to the women, to take a sufficient meal.
No one, however, said a word; all these apish tricks
passed for mysteries. The Savages and the French,
in the matter of compliments, hold the two extremes :

128 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.29

Francis font importuns dans l'excez de leurs cere-
monies, & bien fouuent diffimulez dans les trop grands
tefmoignages de leur amitie\ La candeur ruftique
eft preferable a vne feinte courtoifie, l'excez ne fut
iamais bon en quoy que ce foit: fi ces bons Neo-
phytes le prennent, ils en feront bien-toft las.

Le Pere qui a foin de cette Miffion, retournant au
Printemps pour la cultiuer, trouua vn nouueau peu-
ple: il eft accueilly [107] auec quantit6 de reuerences
& de complimes ; il ne treuue plus de vifages peints,
ny de cheueux oints ou graiffez, felon leur ancienne
couftume : on le vient receuoir a la Francoife, auec
vne grace & vne gentilleffe qui n'efloit pas des plus
accomplies, auffi ne faifoit-elle que de naillre: en vn
mot, il treuue que ces difciples auoient appris trois fois
plus de chofes qu'il ne leur en auoit enfeigne. Quel-
ques bonnes femmes difent qu'elles fe font con-
ferees; d'autres qu'ils ont aflifte alaMeffe; tout le
monde affeure qu'on a prie en public & en particu-
lier tout le temps de l'hyuer ; chacun rend compte de
fes petites deuotions, & le pauure Pere bien eftonne
commence a les accufer de fuperbe, il reprend leur
indifcretion, il leur fait entendre la griefuet6 de leur
crime, non qu'il ne vid bien que l'ignorance & la fim-
plicite couuroit la moitie de leurs fautes, mais pour
leur donner vn pref eruatif pour le f utur : ces bones
gens bien eftonez baiffent la tefte, ils s'en vont tous
a la Chappelle pour demander pardon a Dieu : celuy
qui auoit commence cette nouueaute, prenant la
parole deuant tous les autres, s'ecrie: Le diable m'a
[108] feduit, & ie vous ay trompez, c'efloit fait de
nous, fi Dieu ne nous eut rappell6 au bon chemin par
la voix de noftre Pere : la Foy s'en alloit perdue dans

1646] RELATION OF 1643-46 129

the former are insipid and boorish in the little respect
which they bear for one another; and the French
are annoying in the excess of their ceremonies, and
very often deceptive in the too great demonstrations
of their friendship. Rustic candor is preferable to a
feigned courtesy; excess was never good, in what-
ever it be ; if these good Neophytes adopt it, they
will soon be weary of it.

The Father who has charge of this Mission, return-
ing in the Spring to cultivate it, found a new people.
He is welcomed [107] with many bows and compli-
ments; he finds no more painted faces, or hair
anointed or greased according to their former cus-
tom ; they come to receive him in the French fash-
ion, with a grace and a politeness which was not the
most accomplished, as, indeed, it was but newly
born ; in a word, he finds that these disciples had
learned three times as many things as he had taught
them. Some good women say that they have con-
fessed; others, that they have attended Mass; every
one affirms that there has been prayer, in public and
in private, all the winter season; each one renders
account of his little devotions. The poor Father,
much astonished, begins to accuse them of arrogance ;
he reproves their indiscretion, he makes them under-
stand the seriousness of their crime, — not that he
did not plainly see that ignorance and simplicity
covered the half of their faults, but in order to give
them a safeguard for the future. These simple peo-
ple, quite astounded, bow their heads; they all go to
the Chapel to ask pardon of God. He who had be-
gun that innovation, starting to speak before all the
others, exclaims : ' ' The devil has [ 1 08] led me astray,
and I have deceived you; it was all over with us, if

130 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

TadoufTac, & nous euffions bien-toft communique
noftre venin aux nations du Nord qui nous viennent
voir & que nous allons vifiter: comme le vent fe joiie
d'vne paille, ainfi le demon nous balotte & nous fait
aller ou il veut, quand nous fommes eloignez de nos
Pafteurs; c'efl moy qui luy ay prefte l'oreille le
beau premier, c'efl moy qui vous ay empeftez, mes
freres, mon crime eft fi grand que ie n'ofe quafi en
efperer le pardon, chaffez moy de l'Eglife, ie ne fuis
pas digne d'y rentrer: le Ciel eft ferme pour moy,
i'ay trop offenfe celuy qui eft mort pour nous, que
faut-il que ie face? que feray-je, mon Pere, pour de
fi grands pechez? II parloit auec tant de ferueur
qu'il n'y auoit perfonne en cette affemblee qui ne
fut touch6; les larmes couloient de leurs yeux, les
regrets de leur cceur parloient vn langage bien agre-
able a Dieu, tous demandoient de faire penitence de
leurs pechez. Le Pere leur ayant fait comprendre
la griefuete de leur offence, place vne Croix en vn lieu
de l'Eglife, [109] comme on fait le Vendredy faindt,
& leur ordonne d'aller faire amande honorable a
Iesvs-Christ, en fon Image, de luy demander
pardon, & de protefter folemnellement qu'ils ne fe
laifferont plus iamais aller a de femblables nou-
ueautez : il leur commande auffi de ieufner a la
facon de l'Eglife, & de tranf porter vne grande Croix
qu'ils auoient dreffee proche de leurs cabanes, en
vn lieu plus eminent & plus decent, afin d'aller la
tous les Vendredis protefter qu'ils reconnoiffoient
Iesvs-Christ, pour leur Sauueur & pour leur
Redempteur. Tout cela fut bien-toft execute, mais
deuant toute autre chofe, ils fe confefferent auec vne
cadeur admirable : quelques-vns portoient de petits

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 131

God had not recalled us to the right way by the voice
of our Father. The Faith was going to destruction
in Tadoussac, and we would soon have communicated
our poison to the nations of the North, who come to
see us, and whom we go to visit. As the wind plays
with a straw, so the demon tosses us and makes us
go where he will, when we are absent from our
Pastors. I am the one who listened to him the very
first; it is I who infected you, my brothers. My
crime is so great that I hardly dare hope for its par-
don; drive me out of the Church, — I am not worthy
to return to it. Heaven is closed for me, — I have
too greatly offended him who has died for us ; what
must I do? What shall I do, my Father, for so great
sins?' He spoke with so much fervor that there
was no one in that assembly who was not touched ;
the tears flowed from their eyes ; the sorrows of their
hearts spoke a language truly agreeable to God, — all
asked to do penance for their sins. The Father, hav-
ing caused them to understand the gravity of their
offense, places a Cross in a space of the Church, [109]
as is done on good Friday, and commands them to
go and make honorable amends to Jesus Christ,
in his Image, — to ask his pardon, and to protest
solemnly that they will never again allow themselves
to follow such innovations. He commands them
also to fast, in the manner of the Church ; and to
transfer a great Cross, which they had set up near
their cabins, to a place more eminent and proper, so
as to go there every Friday to declare that they
acknowledged Jesus Christ for their Savior and
their Redeemer. All that was soon accomplished ;
but before everything else, they made confession
with an admirable candor. Some carried little

132 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

battos, pour fe fouuenir de leurs pechez: d'autres les
marquoiet fur les grains de leur Chappelet : d'autres
les efcriuoient a leur mode fur de petits morceaux
d'6corce d'arbre; ils donnoient tous des indices de
leurs regrets, & de leur penitece. La Croix que le
Pere leur auoit ordonne' de tranfporter, auoit bien
enuiron trente ou trente-cinq pieds de long: le
Capitaine la voulut porter luy-mefme fur fes efpaules,
il affemble fes gens, fait [no] prendre les armes a
quelques-vns, conduit les autres en la Chappelle, ou
il leur tint ce difcours. Mes freres, vous fcauez que
nous auons erre dedans nos deuotions, & que noftre
peche nous rend indignes de pardon : mais celuy qui
a efte pour nous cloue" en vne Croix, eft tout plein
de mifericorde, ie ne perdray iamais l'efperance que
i'ay en luy ; fi nous auons quitte le vray chemin, nous
y fommes rentrez, ne perdons point courage, obeif-
fons plus fidelement que iamais. Puis fe tournant
vers quelques Sauuages du Nord non encor baptif ez :
Mes freres, leur dift-il, tous ceux qui font egarez, ne
font pas perdus, fi noftre peche vous a fcandalifez,
que noftre penitence vous edifie, & vous face dire en
voftre pays que la Foy ny la Priere ne font pas ban-
nis de Tadouffac, nous ferons auffi fermes en la Foy
que iamais, & pour moy quand vn Ange viendroit du
Ciel m'enfeigner vne doctrine contraire a ce que le
Pere nous enfeigne, ie ne le croirois pas. Pour vous
qui portez encor vos pechez dans voftre ame, faites
vous bien- toft baptif er, afin que nous foyons veritable-
ment tous freres, & que nous n'ayons qu'vn Pere &
[hi] vne mefme maifon dans le Ciel.

Cela dit, il charge cette grande Croix fur fes efpau-
les: la proceffion fe commence, ils marchent tous

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 133

sticks, in order to remember their sins ; others marked
them on the beads of their Rosaries; others wrote
them, after their fashion, on small pieces of the bark
of trees; they all gave indications of their regret and
penitence. The Cross which the Father had ordered
them to transfer, was probably about thirty or thirty-
five feet long; the Captain wished to bear it himself
on his shoulders. He assembles his people, makes
[no] some take arms, and leads the others into the
Chapel, where he addresses them in these words:
" My brothers, you know that wre have erred in our
devotions, and that our sin renders us unworthy of
pardon ; but he who was nailed to a Cross for us is
full of mercy, — I shall never lose the hope that I
have in him. If we have left the true road, we have
returned to it; let us not lose courage, — let us obey
more faithfully than ever." Then turning toward
some Savages of the North, not yet baptized, " My
brothers," said he to them, " not all those who have
gone astray are lost; if our sin has scandalized you,
may our penance edify you, and cause you to say in
your own country that the Faith and Prayer are not
banished from Tadoussac. We shall be as firm in
the Faith as ever; and as for me, though an Angel
should come from Heaven to teach me a doctrine
contrary to what the Father teaches us, I would not
believe him. As for you who still bear your sins in
your souls, do you soon become baptized, — so that
we may indeed be all brothers, and that we may have
but one Father and [in] one house in Heaven."

That said, he loads that great Cross upon his
shoulders: the procession starts, and they all march,
two by two, with a modesty truly Christian. Hav-
ing arrived at the place where this Tree which has

134 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

deux a deux auec vne modeftie vrayement Chre-
flienne. Arriuez au lieu oil cet Arbre qui a porte" le
fruidt de vie, deuoit eftre plante, ils l'eleuent & le
placent au bruit des coups d'arquebufades, qu'ils
font retentir auec vne grande allegreffe. La Croix
eftant planted, ils fe iettent a genoux, adorent le
Crucirie- en fon Image, & pour concluGon le Pere leur
fait entendre que pour les adtios de ciuilite ou de
police, qu'ils eftoient libres de fuiure leurs idees,
pourueu qu'elles ne cotrariaffent point a la loy de
Dieu, mais que les ordres de Dieu & de fon Eglife
leur deuoiet eftre a iamais inuiolables.

I'ay defia dit que c'eft la cou flume des Sauuages,
quand quelqu'vn a quelque fujet de trifleffe ou de
douleur, ou mefme encor de colere, qu'ils luy font
vn prefent pour foulager fon cceur. Le Capitaine de
Tadouffac, voyant bien que le Pere eiloit trifle &
afflige de leur offenfe, voulut appaifer fa douleur auec
cette petite harangue: Mon Pere, ce petit prefent
vous eft fait pour tirer du fond de voflre [112] ame
toute la triflefle que vous pourriez auoir conceue de
nos pechez & de noflre tromperie, il efluyera toute
voflre douleur, & pour moy ie vous affeure que ie
tiendray la main qu'vn chacun marche d'orefnauant
par le chemin que vous nous auez monilre. Si quel-
qu'vn refufoit de toucher le prefent, il donneroit a
entendre qu'il n'accorde pas ce de quoy il eft requis,
le meilleur eft de le prendre & de 1' employer au fou-
lagement des plus pauures. Ceux qui en fuitte de
cette proceffion eurent le bon-heur de s'approcher de
la faindte Table, s'y preparerent auec la priere &
le ieufne, & non contens de fe confefler vne fois,
ils retournent ordinairement pour la feconde fois

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 135

borne the fruit of life was to be planted, they raise
it and put it in position, with the noise of arquebus
shots, which they cause to resound with great de-
light. The Cross being planted, they fall on their
knees, and adore the Crucified in his Image; and, in
conclusion, the Father gives them to understand
that, as for acts of civility or of social discipline,
they were free to follow their own ideas, provided
they should not oppose the law of God, — but that
the orders of God and of his Church must be to
them forever inviolable.

I have already said that it is the custom of the
Savages, when any one has some cause of sadness
or pain, or even withal of anger, for them to make
him a present, in order to comfort his heart. The
Captain of Tadoussac, seeing well that the Father was
sad and afflicted by their offense, undertook to
appease his sorrow with this little harangue: " My
Father, this little present is made to you, in order
to draw from the depth of your [112] soul all the
sadness that you might have conceived for our sins
and for our deception ; it will wipe away all your grief.
And, as for me, I assure you that I will take care
that each one shall henceforth walk in the way that
you have pointed out to us." If one refused to touch
the present, he would give to understand that he
does not grant that for which he is asked ; the best
way is, to take it and to use it for the relief of the
very poor. Those who, after this procession, had
the happiness to approach the sacred Table, prepared
themselves for it with prayer and fasting ; and, not
content with confessing once, they usually returned
for the second time, a few days after their first
confession, "for fear," they said, "lest something

136 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

quelques iours apres leur premiere confeffion, de
peur, difent-ils, qu'il ne refte quelque chofe par oubly
dans noftre ame. Cette candeur eft fort ordinaire
quafi a tous les Sauuages.

Vn bon Neophyte ne fe potmant contenir apres la
Communion, difoit ail Pere : mon coeur eft tout autre
qu'il n'eftoit, ie fens ie ne fcay quelle douceur, ie
ne fcay quelle ioye que ie ne puis exprimer de
parole, deuant la Communion i'eftois [113] comme vn
petit animal renferme dans fon trou qui n'en ofe
fortir, il fe prefente, il fort a demy, mais la peur le
fait relancer dans fa taniere : voila comme i'eftois
deuant que d'auoir receu ce mets facre, la confeffion
auoit calme mon cceur/ mais il n'ofoit fortir, la
crainte & l'affeurance le partageoient, fi toft que mon
Sauueur l'a vifite, il a brife tous les obftacles, il m'a
mis en liberte, vous diriez qu'il n'eft plus dedans
moy, qu'il vole dedans l'air tout preft de faire la
volonte de Dieu, en quoy que ce foit.

Vne femme defia aagee a monftre ie ne fcay quoy
de plus haut que le commun dedans fes deuotions :
fa ferueur luy fit apprendre en vne demie heure vne
Oraifon affez logue qu'on leur fait faire apres la Com-
munion, a peine l'eut-on proferee deux fois, qu'elle
la recita de mot a mot, & la fit apprendre aux autres:
elle a vn extreme defir de fcauoir tout ce qu'il faut
faire pour contenter Dieu, elle fort de fa cabane &
fe retire quelquesfois a l'ecart pour faire fa priere,
fon cceur parle vn langage que perfonne ne luy a
appris: Vous fcauez, dit-elle, 6 mon Dieu, que ie
n'ayme que vous, que tout ce qui eft fur la [114]
terre, ne m'eft rien, vous feul connoiffez l'eftonne-
ment & la ioye que i'ay de ce que vous m'auez donne

164GJ RELATION OF 1645-46 137

remain, through forgetfulness, in our souls." This
candor is very usual with nearly all the Savages.

A good Neophyte, unable to contain himself after
the Communion, said to the Father: " My heart is
quite other than it was ; I feel an indescribable sweet-
ness, an indescribable joy, that I cannot express in
speech. Before the Communion, I was [113] like a
little animal shut up in its hole, not daring to come
out of it, — it appears, it comes out half way, but
fear causes it to dart back into its den ; I was like
that, before I had received that sacred food. Confes-
sion had calmed my heart, but it dared not come
out, — fear and confidence divided it. As soon as
my Savior visited it, he broke all the obstacles,
he set me at liberty. You would say that it is no
longer within me, — that it flies in the air, all ready
to do the will of God, in whatever it be."

A woman already old has shown something strange-
ly above the common in her devotions: her fervor
caused her to learn in half an hour a very long
Prayer which they are made to say after Commun-
ion : hardly had it been uttered twice, when she
recited it word for word, and taught it to the others.
She has an extreme desire to know all that must be
done in order to satisfy God; she leaves her cabin
and sometimes withdraws aside in order to say her
prayer ; her heart speaks a language which no one
has taught her. " You know," she says, " O my
God, that I love only you, — that all that is on the
[114] earth is nothing to me; you alone know the
astonishment and joy that I experience because you
have given me the Faith and the grace to know you.
It seems to me that nothing in the world could sepa-
rate me from you; I fear neither poverty, nor pain,

138 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

la Foy & la grace de vous connoiitre, il me femble
que rien du monde ne me fcauroit feparer de vous,
ie ne crains ny la pauurete, ny la douleur, ny la
mort: ie fens neantmoins que i'ayme ma petite fille,
mais ie vous ayme bien dauantage ; car fi vous la
voulez, prenez la, mon Seigneur, ie ne vous quitte-
ray pas pour cela, ny pour chofe aucune qui foit au
monde.

II n'eft pas croyable comme les Sauuages qui vien-
net des autres contrees a Tadouffac, font eftonnez:
les peuples renfermez dans les froids du Nord, en-
tendans parler de cette nouuelle creace, s'en viennent
par petites troupes les vnes apres les autres. On en
a compte cette annee deux cens d'vne feule nation,
qui voyans que des Sauuages prechent la Foy, ils
ecoutent, fe prefentent eux-mefmes & leurs enfans
au Baptefme. Le Pere en a fait Chreftiens vne
foixantaine cette annee, ils fe font inftruire, ils offrent
leurs prieres a Dieu dans la Chappelle qu'ils admi-
rent, quoy qu il n'y ait rien de fi pauure: en vn
mot, ils viendront tous petit a petit [115] fe chauffer
& fe bruler au feu que Iesvs-Christ eft venu
allumer deffus la terre ; leur vie eft eftrange, ils ne
paroiffent que quelques mois de l'annee fur les riues
du grand fleuue, & quelques-vns ne s'y arreftent que
fort peu de iours. Tout le refte du temps ils rentrent
dans ces grandes forefts, pour faire la guerre aux
poiffons & aux belles: apres tout, l'experience nous
apprend qu'ils menent vne vie fort innocente, &
qu'ils conferuent tres-bien les graces qu'ils viennent
puifer dans les Sacremens de l'Eglife, auffi faut-il
auoiier qu'ils font eloignez de tout ce qui fert
d'aliment au vice & au peche.

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 139

nor death. I feel, nevertheless, that I love my little
daughter, but I love you much more, — for, if you
desire her, take her, my Lord; I will not leave you
for that, nor for anything that is in the world."

It is not credible how full of wonder are the Sav-
ages who come from the other districts to Tadous-
sac; the peoples shut up in the cold of the North,
hearing mention of this new belief, come in small
bands, one after another. There were counted of
these, this year, two hundred from a single nation, —
v/ho, seeing that Savages preach the Faith, listen
and present themselves and their children for Bap-
tism. The Father has made about sixty of them
Christians this year; they become instructed, they
offer their prayers to God in the Chapel, — which
they admire, though there is nothing so poor : in a
word, they will all come, little by little, [115] to
warm themselves and set themselves on fire by the
flame which Jesus Christ has come to kindle upon
the earth. Their life is strange; they appear only
in certain months of the year on the banks of the
great river, and some remain there only a very few
days. For the rest of the time, they return to those
great forests, in order to make war on the fish and
the beasts. After all, experience teaches us that they
lead a very innocent life, and that they preserve very
well the graces which they come to draw from the
Sacraments of the Church ; it must be also acknowl-
edged that they are averse to everything which
serves as food for vice and sin.

The Father, when obliged to separate from these
good Neophytes, left them five Books, or five
Chapters of a Book, composed after their manner;
these Books were no other than five sticks variously

140 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

Le Pere fe voulant feparer de ces bons Neophytes,
leur laiffa cinq Liures ou cinq Chapitres d'vn Liure
compofe a leur mode; ces Liures n'eftoient autres
que cinq baftons diuerfement faconnez, dans lefquels
ils doiuent lire ce que le Pere leur a fortement
inculque.

Le premier eft vn ballon noir, qui leur doit faire
fouuenir de l'horreur qu'ils doiuent auoir de leurs
notuieautez & de leurs anciennes fuperftitions.

Le fecond eft vn bafton blanc, qui leur marque les
deuotions & les prieres qu'ils [116] feront tous les
iours, & la facon d'offrir & de prefenter a Dieu leurs
petites actions.

Le troifieme eft vn bafton rouge, fur lequel eft
efcrit ce qu'ils doiuent faire les Dimanches & les
Feftes, comme ils fe doiuent affembler tous dans vne
grande cabane, faire les prieres publiques, chanter
des Cantiques fpirituels, & fur tout ecouter celuy
qui tiendra ces Liures ou ces Baftons, & qui en
donnera 1' explication a toute l'affemblee.

Le quatrieme eft le Liure ou le bafton du chafti-
ment, auffi eft-il entoure de petites cordeletes: ce
Liure prefcrit la facon de corriger les delinquans
auec amour & charite : il f aut accorder a leur f erueur
ce qui eft raifonnable, & retrancher les excez ou ils
fe portent ayfement.

Le cinquieme Liure eft vn bafton entaille de diuer-
fes marques, qui fignifie comme ils fe doiuent com-
porter dans la difette & dans l'abondance, le recours
qu'ils doiuent auoir a Dieu, les adtions de graces
qu'ils luy doiuent rendre, & l'efperance qu'ils doiuent
toufiours auoir en fa bonte, notamment pour l'eter-
nite.

1646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 141

fashioned, in which they are to read what the Father
has earnestly inculcated upon them.

The first is a black stick, which is to remind them
of the horror that they must have for their innova-
tions and their former superstitions.

The second is a white stick, which marks for them
the devotions and the prayers which they [116] shall
say every day, and the manner of offering and
presenting to God their minor actions.

The third is a red stick, on which is written that
which they are to do on Sundays and Feasts, —
how they are all to assemble in a great cabin, hold
public prayers, sing spiritual Songs, and above all,
listen to the one who shall keep these Books or these
Sticks, and who will give the explanation of them
to the whole assembly.

The fourth is the Book or the stick of punishment,
therefore it is wound with little ropes. This Book
prescribes the manner of correcting the delinquents
with love and charity ; to their fervor must be granted
what is reasonable, and the excesses to which they
are easily inclined must be cut off.

The fifth Book is a stick notched with various
marks, which signifies how they are to behave in
dearth and in plenty, — the recourse which they must
have to God, the thanksgivings that they must
render him, and the hope which they must always
have in his goodness, especially as regards eternity.

These poor people, withdrawing into their forests,
usually separate themselves into three [117] bands;
the Father has given to the chief of each squad these
five Books, or these five Chapters, which contain all
that they must do. It is a truly innocent pleasure
to see these new Preachers hold these Books or these

142 LES RELATIONS DES JESUJTES [Vol.29

Ces pauures gens fe retirans dans les bois, fe diui-
fent ordinairement en trois[ii7] bandes: le Pere a
donne au chef de chaque efcouade ces cinq Liures cm
ces cinq Chapitres qui contiennent tout ce qu'ils doi-
uent faire. C'eft vn plaifir bien innocent de voir ces
nouueaux Predicateurs tenir ces Liures ou ces baftos
d'vne main, en tirer vn de l'autre, le prefenter a leur
auditoire, auec ces paroles. Voila le bafton ou le
Maffmahigan, c'eft a dire le liure des fuperititions,
c'eft noftre Pere qui l'a efcrit luy-mefme, il vous dit
qu'il n'y a que les feuls Preftres qui puiflent dire la
Meile & entendre les Confeffions, que nos tambours,
nos fueries & nos fremifTemes de mammelles, font
des inuentions du manitou ou du mauuais demon qui
nous veut tromper ; & ainfi de tous ces autres Liures
de bois qui leur feruent autant que les volumes les plus
dorez d'vne Biblioteque Royale : Dieu parle auffi bien
aux petits qu'aux grands, leur docilite les met a
l'abry des foudres qui renuerfent les efprits pleins
d'eux-mefmes.

1646J RELATION OF 1645-46 143

sticks in one hand, draw forth a stick with the other,
and present it to their audience with these words:
" Behold the stick or the Massinahigan," — that is to
say, " the book of the superstitions; " " our Father
has written it himself. He tells you that it is only
the Priests who can say Mass and hear Confessions;
that our drums, our sweatings, and our throbbings
of the breast are inventions of the manitou or of the
evil spirit, who wishes to deceive us; " and so of all
those other Books of wood, which serve them as well
as the most gilded volumes of a Royal Library. God
speaks as well to the small as to the great; their
docility shelters them from the strokes of lightning
which overthrow minds filled with self.

144 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.29

[118] CHAPITRE VIII.

DE L'HABITATION DE VILLE- MARIE, EN L'lSLE DE

MONTREAL.

LA paix, l'vnion & la concorde, ont fleury cette
ann6e dans l'lfle de Motreal, l'affeurance a efte
parmy les Francois, & la crainte a trouble de
temps en temps les Sauuages. Auant que d'en ren-
dre la raifon, il fera bon de remarquer que tout ainfi
que fous le nom d' Iroquois, nous comprenons diuers
peuples, les Annierronons, les Onibetchanbns, [sc.
Onibetchronons] les Onontagueronons, les Sbntbaro-
nons, & quelques autres, de mefme auffi fous le nom
& fous la langue des Algonquins nous logeons quan-
tity de nations, dont quelques-vnes font fort petites,
& d 'autres fort peuplees, les babiechkarinibek, les
Kichefipirinibek, ou les Sauuages de l'lfle, pource
qu'ils habitent vne Ifle qui fe rencontre fur le chemin
des Hurons, les Onontchataronons, ou la nation
d'Iroquet, les Nipifiriniens, les Matabchkairinib[e]k,
[119] les Sagachiganirinib'ek, les Kinb'chebiirinib'ek, &
pluQeurs autres depuis la paix faite entre les Annier-
ronnons, les Francois & leurs alliez: il s'eft trouue
pour r ordinaire quelques-vns de toutes ces nations a
Montreal.

Tefbehat, autrement le Borgne de l'lfle, Tabichka-
ron Capitaine des Onontchataronons, & Makatebana-
kifitch Capitaine des Matabchkairinibek, s'eftoient
refolus de demeurer la, d'y paffer l'hyuer & d'y

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 145

[Il8] CHAPTER VIII.

OF THE SETTLEMENT OF VILLE-MARIE, IN THE ISLAND

OF MONTREAL.

PEACE, union, and concord have nourished this
year in the Island of Montreal ; confidence has
prevailed among- the French, and fear has,
from time to time, troubled the Savages. Before
giving a reason for this, it will be well to remark
that, just as under the name of Iroquois we include
various peoples, — the Annierronons, the Oniwetch-
ronons, the Onontagueronons, the Sountwaronons,
and some others, — likewise, also, under the name and
the language of the Algonquins we include many na-
tions. Some of these are very small, and others very
populous: the Wawiechkariniwek, the Kichesipirini-
wek or the Savages of the Island — because they
inhabit an Island which is encountered on the way to
the Hurons, — the Onontchataronons or the Iroquet
nation, the Nipisiriniens, the Mataouchkairiniwek,
[119] the Sagachiganiriniwek, the Kinouchebiirini-
wek, and several others. Since the peace made
between the Annierronnons and the French and
their allies, there have been found at Montreal, as
a rule, some persons from all these nations.

Teswehat, — otherwise le Borgne of the Island, —
Tawichkaron, Captain of the Onontchataronons, and
Makatewanakisitch, Captain of the Mataouchkairini-
wek, had resolved to dwell there, to spend the
winter there, and there to plant Indian corn in the

146 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.29

planter du bled d'Inde au Printemps, les faux bruits
qui coururent que les Annierronnons n'auoient fait
qu'vne paix feinte, donnerent l'alarme au camp &
firent deloger Tefb'ehat & fa troupe pour fe retirer
aux trois Riuieres. Les Onontchataronons, dont les
anceftres ont autresfois habite l'lfle de Montreal, &
qui femblent auoir quelque defir de la reprendre pour
leur pais, tinrent ferme, & a leur exemple, les Mata-
Schkairinib'ek.

A ces faux bruits il en furuint vn autre mieux
fonde, qui penfa bannir de Montreal tons ces pauures
Sauuages. Les Iroquois Annierronnons leur dirent
que les Oneiochronons & les Onontagueronons n'e-
ftoient point entrez dans le traite de [120] paix qu'ils
auoient fait auec les Algonquins & auec les Hurons,
& partant qu'ils fe tinffent fur leurs gardes, pource
que ces peuples eftoient partis pour furprendre les
Hurons, & de la venirfondre a Montreal. Laterreur
en faifit quelques-vns, qui s'enfuirent comme les
autres. Teftfehat qui s'eftoit retire des premiers,
enuoye des meffagers coup fur coup, pour preffer ceux
qui reftoient, de defcendre au pluftoft, qu'autrement
ils font tous morts; mais la chaff e, comme il eft
croyable, les retient: en effet elle eft excellente en
ces quartiers, a caufe que les animaux pendant la
guerre, eftoient comme en vn pays neutre, oil les en-
nemis ne battoient ny la campagne, ny les bois. Ces
deux efcoiiades ayans pris refolution de refter,
nonobftant tous les dangers dont on les menacoit, ont
pafle l'hyuer fans aucun mal, maffacre des animaux
en abondance, & cultiue quelques terres au Prin-
temps. Cela ne s'eft pas fait fans crainte & fans
terreur: car de temps en temps ils prenoient des

1646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 147

Spring. The false reports which were current, that
the Annierronnons had made only a feigned peace,
gave the alarm to the camp, and caused Teswehat and
his troop to dislodge in order to withdraw to three
Rivers. The Onontchataronons, whose ancestors
formerly inhabited the Island of Montreal, and who
seem to have some desire to recover it as their coun-
try, remained firm, and, after their example, the
Mataouchkairiniwek.

These false reports were followed by another,
better founded, which was likely to banish from
Montreal all these poor Savages. The Annierronnon
Iroquois told them that the Oneiochronons and the
Onontagueronons had not entered into the treaty of
[120] peace which the former had made with the
Algonquins and the Hurons; and that, consequently,
they should hold themselves on their guard, because
those tribes had set out to surprise the Hurons, and
thence come to attack Montreal. Terror seized some
of them, who fled like the others. Teswehat, who
had withdrawn among the first, sends messengers,
one after another, in order to urge those who remained
to come down as soon as possible, — that otherwise
they are all dead; but the chase, it is to be supposed,
detained them. Indeed, it is excellent in these
quarters, because the game, during the war, was
as in a neutral region, where the enemy scoured
neither the open country nor the woods. Those
two squads, having taken resolution to remain, not-
withstanding all the dangers with which they were
threatened, have passed the winter without any
harm, slain animals in abundance, and cultivated
some lands in the Spring. That has not been done
without dread and terror, — for from time to time

148 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.29

ombres pour des homes, & des phantofmes pour
des veritez. II eft vray neantmoins que ces peuples
dont on les auoit menacez, eftoient en arme.
Nous auons [121] appris ce Printemps qu'ils ont
quafi deftruit vne bourgade d'Hurons, & que
Tefb'ehat remontant en fon pays, a perdu l'vn de
ceux qui l'accompagnoient dans vne embufcade qu'ils
luy ont dreflee. C'eft vn ieune homme qui eftant
frappe d'vn coup d'arquebufe, fut rapporte a Mont-
real: iamais il n'auoit receu aucune inftruction, &
neantmoins il ouurit tellement les oreilles aux pa-
roles delESVS-CHRiST, qu'il fit quafi croire a celuy
qui le baptifa qu'il n'auoit receu ce coup de la mort
que pour paffer auffi-toft dans la vie par le moyen
de ce diuin Sacrement, qui le porta en vn inftant
de la terre au Ciel. Si ces peuples ne font la paix,
comme on efpere qu'ils la feront, ou fi les Annierron-
nons ne les empefchent de paffer dans leurs terres,
comme on les a priez, ils ne donneront aucun repos
aux Sauuages qui fe retireront a Montreal. Ces
barbares ont tefmoigne qu'ils eftoient amis des
Francois, mais s'ils venoient chercher des Algonquins
ou des Hurons, & qu'ils n'en trouuaffent point, ie ne
voudrois pas qu'ils rencontraffent des Europeans
a leur aduantage: car lors qu'ils viennent en guerre,
ils ne prennent point [122] plaifir de retourner les
mains vuides en leur pays ; ils f e font bien f ouuent
des ennemis, quand ils n'en ont pas. Defcendons
maintenant vn petit plus en particulier: comme
cette Ifle eft en quelque facon frontiere des Iroquois
Annierronnons, elle a quafi tout l'hyuer quelques
ieunes gens de ces peuples qui viennent voir par
curiofite les Francois & les Algonquins: ce fut vn

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 149

they mistook shadows for men, and phantoms for
realities. It is true, nevertheless, that those tribes
with which they were threatened were in arms. We
have [121] learned this Spring that they have nearly
destroyed a village of Hurons; and that Teswehat,
going back to his own country, lost one of those
who accompanied him, in an ambush that they set
for him, — this was a young man who, being hit by
an arquebus shot, was carried back to Montreal.
Never had he received any instruction, and yet he
opened his ears in such a way to the words of
Jesus Christ, that he almost persuaded him who
baptized him that he had received that shot from
death, only to pass immediately into life by the
means of that divine Sacrament, which bore him in
an instant from earth to Heaven. Unless those
tribes make peace, as it is hoped that they will do,
or unless the Annierronnons prevent them from
crossing through their lands, as they have been
requested, they will give no rest to the Savages who
shall withdraw to Montreal. Those barbarians have
shown that they were friends to the French ; but if
they came to seek Algonquins or Hurons, and found
none of them, I would not like them to encounter
Europeans when they had the advantage, — for, when
they come to war, they take no [122] pleasure in
returning empty-handed to their own country ; they
very often make enemies for themselves, when they
have none. Let us now come down somewhat more
to particulars. As this Island is, in some sort, a
frontier of the Annierronnon Iroquois, it has, nearly
all the winter, some young men of those tribes who
come through curiosity to see the French and the
Algonquins. It was very fortunate that Father Isaac

150

LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

bon-heur que le Pere Ifaac Iogues fe trouua en cette
habitation, car il les entretenoit dans l'affection &
dans le defir de continuer la paix, les difpofant petit
a petit a lny prefter l'oreille, quand il les iroit voir
en leur pays.

Ces Barbares regardoient les lieux ou ils eftoient
venus en guerre, ou ils auoient maffacre des Francois
& des Algoquins, ou ils auoiet pris des prifonniers,
& quand on leur demandoit comme ils auoient traite
ceux qu'ils auoient emmenez en leur pays: nous
n'eftions point prefens, difoient-ils, quand on les em-
mena das nos bourgades, on ne les a point tourmen-
tez. Nous fcauions bien le contraire: car vn ieune
Algonquin qui s'eft fauue d'entre leurs mains, nous
a affeurez qu'il les auoit veu bruler tout vifs, que les
Iroquois [123] n'ont iamais traite aucun prifonnier
auec plus de rage, qu'ils firent tous leurs efforts pour
les faire pleurer, que ces pauures Francois ioignoient
les mains au milieu des flammes, & qu'ils regardoient
vers le Ciel; que les Algonquines captiues en ce
pays-la les voyant dans ces horribles fouffrances, ne
pouuoient contenir leurs larmes, fe baiflant & fe
cachant pour pleurer. Ce temps de fureur eft paffe,
ces monftres fe changeront en hommes, & d'hommes
ils deuiendront des enfans de Dieu. Ce peuple enrle
de fes vidtoires, eft fuperbe iufques dans le pays
de fes ennemis; l'vn d'eux difoit en chantant ces
paroles en face des Algonquins : le voulois tuer des
Algonquins, mais Onontio a arrefte ma colere, il a
applany la terre, il a fauue" la vie a quantite d'hommes,
voulant fignifier que fans la paix, il auroit terraffe
grand nombre de fes ennemis.

Quelques autres ayans rencontre vne petite cabane

K546J RELATION OF 1645-46 151

Jogues happened to be in this settlement, for he
maintained their kindly feeling and their desire to
continue the peace, — preparing them, little by little,
to lend ear to him, when he should go to visit them
in their own country.

Those Barbarians looked at the places where they
had come in war, where they had massacred French
and Algonquins, where they had taken prisoners;
and when they were asked how they had treated
those whom they had led away into their country,
" We were not present," they said, " when they were
taken into our villages; they were not tortured."
We know quite the contrary ; for a young Algonquin
who has escaped from their hands, has assured us
that he had seen them actually burned alive; that
the Iroquois [123] have never treated any prisoner
with greater rage ; that they used all their efforts to
make them weep ; that those poor Frenchmen were
joining their hands in the midst of the flames, and
were looking toward Heaven; that the Algonquin
women, captive in that country, seeing them in those
horrible sufferings, were unable to contain their
tears, — stooping and hiding themselves in order to
weep. That time of fury is passed; those monsters
will become changed into men, and from men they
will become children of God. This people, elated
with its victories, is haughty even in the land of its
enemies. One of them was singing these words in
the presence of the Algonquins: " I wished to kill
some Algonquins, but Onontio has arrested my
anger, he has leveled the earth, he has saved the
lives of many men," — intending to signify that, but
for the peace, he would have struck down a great
number of his enemies.

152 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.29

d'Algonquins qui chaffoient, les femmes les ayans
apperceus, s'enfuirent dans le fonds des bois, excepte"
vne bonne vieille, qui n'ayant plus de jambes, fit de
la refolue: ces Iroquois luy crient qu'ils font amis: a
la bonne heure, [124] repond-elle, entrez dans noftre
cabane pour vous delaffer: les hommes arriuans fur
le foir, trouuerent ces hoftes qui fe gauffoient de la
crainte des Algonquins ; mais ceux-cy leur repartirent
gentiment : nous ne craignons que les medians, vous
eftes bons, ce n'efl pas vous qui nous donnez de la
peur, mais les Onotagueronons qui manquent d'efprit,
vous ayant refufe d'entrer dans le traite de paix que
vous auez fait auec nous.

L'vn de ces Iroquois qui fembloit auoir quelque
bonne inclination pour les Algonquins, voyant que
quelques-vns d'entr'eux prioient Dieu, fe glifloit
ordinairement parmy eux, quand ils venoient a la
faindte Meffe: le Pere qui la difoit, s'en eftant apper-
ceu, le voulut faire fortir, il repond qu'il croit en
Dieu, & qu'il a vn chappelet auffi bien que les autres.
Les Algonquins voyans cela, difent qu'il eft Chre-
ftien: demandez luy, fit le Pere, s'il eft baptife, &
comme il s'appelle; qu'eft-ce, repartit-il, que d'eftre
baptife? c'eft, luy dit le Sauuage qui l'interrogeoit,
receuoir vne eau de grande importance qui efface
toutes les taches & toutes les foiiilleures de noftre
ame: luy qui s'imaginoit [125] que cette eau d'im-
portance, dont ils vouloit parler, eftoit de l'eau de
vie, & qu'il n'y en auoit point de meilleure au mode:
Ah! s'ecria-il, les Hollandois m'ont fouuent donne
de cette eau d'importance, i'en ay tant beu que i'en
eftois fi yure qu'il me falloit lier les pieds & les
mains, de peur que ie ne fifle mal a perfonne, tout le

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 153

Some others having encountered a small cabin of
Algonquins who were hunting, the women, having
perceived them, fled into the depth of the woods,
except one old woman, who having no more use of
her legs, acted the resolute. Those Iroquois shout
to her that they are friends; " Very well," [124]
she answers, " come into our cabin to refresh your-
selves." The men, arriving toward evening, found
these guests, who were making sport of the dread
of the Algonquins; but the latter answered them
gently: " We dread only the wicked; you are good.
It is not you who give us fear, but the Onontague-
ronons, who are wanting in sense, since they have
refused you to enter into the treaty of peace which
you have made with us."

One of those Iroquois, who seemed to have some
kindly inclination for the Algonquins, seeing that
some among them were praying to God, usually
slipped in among them when they came to hear holy
Mass; the Father who was saying it, having per-
ceived this, wished to make him go forth. He
answers that he believes in God, and that he has a
rosary as well as the others ; the Algonquins, seeing
that, say that he is a Christian. " Ask him," said
the Father, " if he is baptized, and what he is called. ' '
"What is that," he replies, "to be baptized?"
" That," the Savage who was questioning him said,
"is to receive a water of great importance, which
effaces all the spots and stains from our souls."
He — who imagined [125] that this water of impor-
tance of which they meant to speak was brandy, and
that there was none better in the world — exclaimed,
' ' Ah ! the Dutch have often given me of that water
of importance ; I drank so much of it and became

154 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.29

monde fe mit a rire de ce beau baptefme : il adioufta
que les Hollanders luy auoient auffi donn6 vn nom ;
l'ayant prononce, on trouua que c'efloit vn fobriquet,
comme nos Francois en donnent quelquesfois aux
Sauuages.

Pour ce qui touche les Algonquins, le Pere qui a
eu foin de cette Miffion, les a preffez fi fortement de
fe rendre a Dieu & de tirer de la terre vne partie de
leur nourriture, que fi la crainte des Iroquois fupe-
rieurs & quelque mauuais genie ne les fait remonter
en leur pais, il eft a croire qu'ils compoferont auec le
temps, s'ils font fecourus, vne petite Eglife pleine
de piete. II ne s'eft pas hafte d'en baptifer grand
nombre, les Payens mefmes Ten loiient publiquement,
difans que rien ne les eloignoit tant du Chriftianifme
que la langueur de ceux dont la Foy n'a point [126]
d'ame. Les fleurs & les fruidts qui fe precipitent,
font fouuent accueillis du froid & de la gel6e.

Entre ceux qu'il a baptifez, il y en a vn qui merite
vne loiiange tres-particuliere : il a pourfuiuy fon Bap-
tefme auec vne conftance toute aymable, il a donne
des preuues de fa Foy toutes particulieres, i'en
rapporteray quelques-vnes confufement.

Sa femme luy voulant procurer le Baptefme, car
elle eft fort bien difpofee, le loiioit de fa fidelite; il
ne fe met point en cholere, il ne va point courir la
nuidt dans les autres cabanes, helas! dit-il deuant
que d'entendre parler de celuy qui a tout fait, ie
commettois ces fautes: mais depuis que i'ay apris
que cela luy defplaifoit, ie n'y fuis point tombe\ il y
a trois ans que ie demande le Baptefme, ie ne me
faf che pas contre ceux qui me le refuf ent ; mais bien
contremoy: car i'ay beaucoup offenfe' Dieu. Vou-

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 155

so tipsy that it was necessary to bind my feet and
hands, for fear lest I should injure some one."
Every one began to laugh at that fine baptism ; he
added that the Dutch had also given him a name, —
having pronounced it, they found that it was a nick-
name, such as our French sometimes give to the
Savages.

As touching the Algonquins, the Father who has
had charge of that Mission, has urged them so ear-
nestly to yield themselves to God, and to obtain from
the earth a part of their food, that — if the dread of
the upper Iroquois and some evil genius do not
cause them to go back to their own country — it is
to be believed that they will compose, in course of
time, if they are assisted, a little Church full of
piety. He has not made haste to baptize a great
number of them ; the Pagans themselves praise him
openly for this, — saying that nothing estranged
them so much from Christianity as the languor of
those whose Faith has no [126] soul. The flowers
and fruits which are too early are often greeted with
cold and frost.

Among those whom he has baptized, there is one
who deserves most special praise ; he has sought for
his Baptism with altogether delightful constancy.
He has given quite extraordinary proofs of his Faith ;
I will report some of these at length.

His wife, wishing to procure him Baptism, — for
she is very well disposed, — was praising him for his
fidelity: " He does not grow angry, he does not go
running about at night in the other cabins."
" Alas! " he said, " before hearing mention of him
who has made all, I committed those faults ; but since
I have learned that they were displeasing to him, I

156 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

lant certain iour tefmoigner le defir qu'il auoit d'eftre
Chreftien: ie n'ayme rien tant au monde que le pe-
tun ou le tabac, difoit-il, ie ne l'ayme plus, quand on
me parle du Baptefme: cell a dire, que fi pour eftre
baptife" il le [127] falloit quitter, ie n'aurois plus d'en-
uie de petuner: oiiy, mais luy replique Mademoifelle
d'Allibout, fi ta femme te vouloit empefcher d'eflre
Chreftien, que ferois-tu? ie ne l'ayme pas, repond-il,
i'ayme le Baptefme: c'eft leur faeon de s'enoncer
pour tefmoigner leur ardeur, ie n'ayme perfonne,
i'ayme le Baptefme: le Pere peut bien me le refufer;
mais il ne fcauroit m' empefcher de prier, & quad il
me chafferoit d'aupres de luy, ie ne laifferois pas de
croire en Dieu, en quelque endroit que ie me trou-
uaffe. Ses ges l'ont fouuent tente, & follicite de fe
trouuer dans leurs fuperftitions, dans leurs feftins a
tout manger, dans leurs fueries, ou dans leurs eftuues:
ils luy difoient qu'il n'eftoit pas encore baptife, que
cela luy eftoit permis: non, dit-il, ie ne feray iamais
rien qui d^plaife a Dieu, quand ie ne ferois point
baptife. Comme il n'eftoit pas beaucoup plonge
dans le vice, ce flambeau qui 6claire tous les hommes,
qui viennent au monde, luy faifoit voir quelques ray-
ons de fa lumiere deuant qu'il eut iamais oiiy parler
de Dieu: allant a la chaff e, difoit-il, ie formois cette
penfee dans mon cceur, & quelquesfois [128] ie la
proferois de ma bouche, quiconque tu fois qui deter-
mines de la vie, & de la mort des animaux, faits
que i'en tue pour ma nourriture, tu me feras plaifir.
Depuis qu'on m'eut inftruit, ie luy parlois auec bien
plus d'amour, & de confiance. Pourfuiuant cet Au-
tomne dernier vn ours, & ne le pouuant attraper, ie
m'arrefte tout court, ie me mets a genoux, & fais ma

1646] RELATION OF 1643-46 1T7

have not fallen into them. It is three years since I
have been asking for Baptism ; I am not angry at
those who refuse me it, but indeed at myself, for I
have greatly offended God. ' ' Wishing, on a certain
dav, to indicate the desire that he had to be a Chris-
tian, " I love nothing in the world so much as petun
or tobacco," said he; "I love it no more, when
they speak to me of Baptism, — that is to say, if, in
order to be baptized, it [127] were necessary to give
it up, I would have no more desire to smoke."
" Yes, but," Mademoiselle d'Allibout answers him,
" if thy wife wished to prevent thee from being a
Christian, what wouldst thou do? " " I do not love
her," he answers, "I love Baptism;" this is their
manner of expressing themselves, in order to show
their ardor. "I love no one, I love Baptism; the
Father can indeed refuse it to me, but he cannot
hinder me from praying; and, though he should
drive me away from him, I would nevertheless
believe in God, in whatever place I might happen to
be." His people have often tempted and solicited
him to take part in their superstitions, — in their eat-
all feasts, and in their sweats or vapor-baths; they
told him that he was not yet baptized, and that these
were permitted to him. " No," said he, " I will
never do anything which displeases God, even
though I should not be baptized." As he was not
deeply plunged into vice, that torch which lights all
men who come into the world, was causing him to
see some rays of its light before he had ever heard
mention of God. Going to the chase, he said: " I
would form this thought in my heart, and sometimes
[128] I would utter it with my lips, — ' Whoever
thou art who ordainest the life and the death of

158 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

priere. Mon Pere, cet animal t'appartient, fi tu me
le veux donner, donne le moy, ie me leue, ie le
pourfuis, ie l'attrape, ie luy lance mon efp£e & ie le
faits demeurer fur la place.

Cet hyuer fe treuuant mal au milieu des bois, il
fut contraint de fe coucher fur la neige : comme il
effcoit £chauffe, la neige fe fondoit fous luy, mais le
f roid la tournoit incontinent en glace : fe voyant dans
cette extremity, il fe met a genoux, poufle de fon
cceur ce peu de paroles: fecoure moy, mon Pere, fi
tu veux, tu le peus faire; mais fcache que tu ne me
fafcheras point, fi tu ne le fais pas: fi i'eftois baptif6,
ie ne ferois pas marry d'eftre malade, ie ne craindrois
point la mort, fais moy receuoir le Baptefme deuant
que ie meure. Ces paroles dites, il fe fent fortified
[129] il fe leue, pourfuit vn cerf: mais comme les
forces luy manquoient, il fe met de rechef a genoux,
toy qui as tout fait, donne moy cet animal ; fi tu me
le veux donner tu l'as cree, il eft a toy; fi tu ne veux
pas me le donner, ie ne laifferay pas de croire en
toy. II n'auoit pas acheue fa priere que la befte fe
tourne du cofte ou il efloit, il fe cache pour ne la
point epouuanter, s'aproche de fon embufcade, il la
tue fans beaucoup de difficulte, puis fe mettant a ge-
noux deflus, il en remercia celuy qui luy auoit donnee.

Le Pere qui l'inftruifoit, fe trouuant mal, il le vint
vifiter, & luy dift: mon Pere, conferue ta vie: fi tu
meurs, qui nous inftruira? qui me baptifera? fi nous
eftions tous baptifez, ie ne me foucierois pas que tu
mouruffes, & nous auffi: car la mort n'eft point
mauuaif e pour ceux qui croyet en Dieu, puis qu'ils vot
au Ciel : mais ne te hafte pas tant, mon Pere, attend

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 159

animals, cause that I kill some for my food ; thou
wilt do me a favor.' After I had been instructed, I
spoke to him with much more love and confidence.
Pursuing, this last Autumn, a bear, and not being
able to overtake it, I stop quite short, I fall on my
knees, and make my prayer: ' My Father, that ani-
mal belongs to thee ; if thou wilt give it to me, give
it to 'me.' I rise; I pursue and overtake it; I hurl
my javelin at it, and cause it to remain on the spot."

This winter, chancing to be sick in the midst of
the woods, he was constrained to lie down upon the
snow; as he was heated, the snow melted under him,
but the cold straightway turned it into ice. Seeing
himself in this extremity, he kneels, and utters from
his heart these few words: " Help me, my Father;
if thou wilt, thou canst do so ; but know that thou
wilt not anger me if thou doest it not. If I were
baptized, I would not be grieved to be sick, and I
would not fear death ; cause me to receive Baptism
before I die." These words being said, he feels
himself strengthened; [I29] ^e rises» and pursues a
stag; but, as his strength fails him, he kneels
again. " Thou who hast made all, give me this
animal ; if thou wilt give it to me, thou hast created
it, — it is thine; if thou wilt not give me it, I will
none the less believe in thee." He has not finished
his prayer before the beast turns in the direction
where he is; he hides himself, in order not to
frighten it, approaches from his ambush, and kills it
without much difficulty. Then, kneeling over it, he
thanked him who had given it to him.

The Father who instructed him chancing to be
sick, he came to visit him and said: "My Father,
preserve thy life; if thou die, who will instruct us?

160 LES RELATIONS DES JESU1TES [Vol.29

que nous ayons tous de l'efprit, il y en a beaucoup
qui en veulent auoir: car ils commencent de prier
Dieu. Le Pere luy repartit, tu prefTes tant qu'on te
baptife, peut-eflre que tu ne feras rien qui vaille,
quand tu le feras? peut-eflre que non, refpondit-il,
[130] car ie n'ay quafi point d'efprit: mais neatmoins
fi ie n'auois peur de parler en fuperbe, ie dirois que
ie tiendray bon, & que ie feray conftant, du moins
i'en ay bonne enuie.

Ces efpreuues ont augmente fa ferueur, & reflably
Teftime de noftre creance dans l'efprit des Payens.
La dodtrine de Iesvs-Christ eft adorable en foy:
mais fi on ne la voit reluire dans les actions des
Chreftiens, fon luftre ne paroift que tenebres aux
yeux des infidelles.

Ce bon Neophyte fut baptife le iour de fainct lean
Baptiite. Monfieur d'Allibout, qui commandoit a
ville-marie, luy fit porter le nom de ce grand precur-
feur de I e s v s-C hrist: les Francois & les princi-
paux Sauuages fe treuuerent a fon Baptefme, fa
modef tie vrayment Chreftienne ne l'empefcha pas de
refpondre d'vne voix forte & conftante a toutes les
interrogations qu'on luy fit, paffant mefme les limites
qu'on luy auoit prefcrites, de peur de trop de
logueur, dans les ceremonies : il donnoit a tous coups
des marques de fa foy, proteftat qu'il la conferueroit,
& deffedroit au peril de fa vie. Quad on luy deman-
da s'il renoncoit a fes fuper[fti]tions, [131] au lieu de
refpondre par vn feul mot, il les nomma toutes en
particulier deuant fes compatriottes. Pay, dit-il,
iette par terre toutes ces fottifes, i'ay quitte la pyro-
mantie ou la diuination par le feu; i'ay quitte les

1646] RELATION OF 1643-46 161

who will baptize me? If we were all baptized, I
would not be concerned if thou shouldst die, and we
also ; for death is not evil for those who believe in
God, since they go to Heaven. But be not in such
haste, my Father; wait until we all have sense;
there are many who will have some, for they begin
to pray to God." The Father answered him:
" Thou urgest so much to be baptized: perhaps thou
wilt do nothing of any account when thou art."
" Perhaps not," he answered, [130] " for I have
hardly any sense; but nevertheless, if I were not
afraid of speaking arrogantly, I would say that I will
remain firm, and that I will be constant, — at least, I
have a strong desire to be."

These probations have increased his fervor, and
restored esteem for our belief in the minds of the
Pagans. The doctrine of Jesus Christ is adorable
in itself; but, unless one sees it reflected in the
deeds of Christians, its luster appears only darkness
to the eyes of infidels.

This good Neophyte was baptized on the day of
saint John the Baptist. Monsieur d'Allibout, who
commanded at ville-marie, made him bear the name
of that great forerunner of Jesus Christ; the
French and the principal Savages were present at
his Baptism. His modesty, truly Christian, did not
prevent him from answering in a strong and steady
voice to all the questions that were put to him, —
even passing the limits that were prescribed for him,
for fear of too much length in the ceremonies. He
gave, at every step, marks of the faith, protesting
that he would preserve and defend it at the risk of
his life. When they asked him if he renounced his
superstitions, [131] instead of answering by a single

162 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

feftins a tout manger; i'ay quitte" les eftuues ou les
fueries fuperftitieufes, les veues des chofes eloigners,
les chafons agreables au demo; i'ay quitte la diuina-
tion par le fremiffement de la mammelle, & s'il faut
abandonner quelqu'autre chofe, ie fuis preft de le
faire: ie n'ayme rien, ie ne m'ayme pas moy-mefme,
i'ayme la creance & la priere, ce font fes termes.
Vn Capitaine Huron, nomme lean Baptifte Atironta,
fe treuuant a fon Baptefme, demanda de parler.
Apres la ceremonie, la permiffion luy en eftant faite,
il apoftropha noftre Neophyte en cette forte: Mon
frere efcoute moy, ie te nomme ainfi : car en verite
tu es mon frere, tant pour ce que nous n'auons plus
qu'vn mefme Pere, que pour autant que nous portons
tous deux le nom de celuy que les croyans honorent
prefentement : tenons ferme en la Foy, ne t'eftonne
point pour les crieries de tes gens, & ne te mets pas
dans l'efprit qu'ils doiuent [132] tous croire: car tu
ferois trompe, ils ne font pas tous bien difpofez: (i
tu te regies fur eux, tu feras bien-toft ebranle, pour
moy ie t'affeure que quand ie ferois perfequute de tout
le monde, & que ie me verrois a deux doigts de la
mort, iamais ie ne reculeray en arriere. Le Neo-
phyte luy refpondit en peu de paroles fort modeftes,
i'efpere que ie refpedteray toute ma vie mon Bap-
tefme, & que la mort n'ebranlera point ma creance.
Cecy fe paffa deuant la Meffe, que ce nouueau Chre-
ftien entendit pour la premiere fois, auec vne tres-
grande confolation. Comme il eftoit fort feruent, on
1'inftruifit en forte qu'il fut trouue capable de com-
munier le mefme iour de fon Baptefme. Dieu n'a
aucun egard aux grands ny aux petits, en la diftri-

164(5] RELATION OF 1643-46 163

word, he named them all in detail, before his fellow-
countrymen. " I have," said he, " flung to the
ground all that foolishness. I have given up pyro-
mancy, or divination by fire; I have given up eat-all
feasts ; I have given up the vapor baths, or supersti-
tious sweats, the visions of distant things, and the
songs agreeable to the demon ; I have given up
divination by the throbbing of the breast; and, if it
is necessary to abandon anything else, I am ready to
do so. I love nothing, — I love not myself; I love
faith and prayer; " such are his own expressions.
A Huron Captain, named Jean Baptiste Atironta,
chancing to be at his Baptism, asked to speak. After
the ceremony, this permission being given him, he
addressed our Neophyte in this fashion: " My broth-
er, listen to me. I call thee so, for in truth thou art
my brother, — both because we now have but one
and the same Father, and since we both bear the
name of him whom the believers are now honoring.
Let us hold firm in the Faith ; be not astonished at
the shoutings of thy people, and do not get it into
thy mind that they must [132] all believe, for thou
wouldst be in error, — they are not all well disposed.
If thou rule thyself by them, thou wilt soon be shak-
en. As for myself, I assure thee that — though I
should be persecuted by all the world, and should
see myself within two finger-lengths of death — never
will I retreat backward." The Neophyte answered
him in a few words, very modestly: " I hope that I
shall respect my Baptism all my life ; and that death
will not shake my belief." This occurred before
Mass, which this new Christian heard for the first
time, to his very great consolation. As he was very
fervent, they instructed him so that he was found fit

164 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

bution de f es graces : ces deux Sacrements firent vn
changement fi notable en cet homme qu'encore qu'il
ne fut pas ordinairement bien refpandu, on remarqua
neantmoins vne modeftie en luy extraordinaire qui
luy a continue iufques a maintenant.

Sur le foir eftant venu voir le Pere qui l'auoit bap-
tife; c'eft maintenant, difoit-il, que ie ne crains plus
la mort, i'ay depuis [133] ce matin que mes pechez
m'ont efte pardonnez, vne fi grande enuie de voir
mon Pere, qu'il me vient des defirs de mourir; mais
que ie vine ou que ie meure, ie tafcheiay de ne point
foiiiller mon Baptefme.

Vn Chreftien vn peu plus aage luy dift : mon
cadet, prenons courage, le chemin du Ciel femble vn
petit fafcheux, mais il ne l'ell pas, quand on croid
fortemet: c'eft vne chofe bien importante de le
fuiure, & bien mauuaife de le quitter: ce n'efl pas
pour viure long-temps en terre qu'on nous baptife ; ce
qu'on nous promet, eft au Ciel, n'ayme done plus ce
qui eft 5a bas, puifque tu es baptife pour aller la
haut.

I'ay donne ma parole, i'ay, fit-il, refpondu a celuy
qui a tout fait, ie luy ay dit que ie croirois en luy
toute ma vie, ie n'ay pas enuie de mentir; ie l'ay-
mois deuant que d'eftre baptife. S'il me venoit quel-
que soge, ie le priois d'empefcher le diable qu'il ne
me trompaft. S'il me venoit vne penfee de prendre
vne feconde femme, il m'en venoit vne autre que ie
le fafcherois, & auffi-toft ie quittois ma penfee: fi
i'eftois malade, ie ne luy demandois la guerifon [134]
que pour eftre baptife: maintenant que ie le fuis,
mon cceur n'a autre penfee que d'eltre auec luy.

1646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 165

to receive communion the same day of his Baptism.
God does not consider either the great or small, in
the distribution of his favors; these two Sacraments
made so notable a change in this man that, although
he was not usually very conspicuous, there was,
nevertheless, remarked in him an extraordinary
modesty which has continued with him even until
now.

Toward evening, having come to see the Father
who had baptized him, " It is now," he said, " that I
no longer fear death; I have since [133] this morn-
ing, when my sins were pardoned, so great a wish
to see my Father, that there come to me desires of
dying; but, whether I live or die, I will try not to
stain my Baptism."

A Christian, somewhat older, said to him: " My
younger brother, let us take courage; the way to
Heaven seems rather difficult, but it is not so when
one believes thoroughly. It is a very important
thing to follow that road, and very dangerous to
leave it. It is not in order to live long on earth that
we are baptized; what they promise us is in Heaven.
Therefore, love no more that which is here below,
since thou art baptized in order to go there above."

" I have given my word; I have," said he, "an-
swered to him who has made all ; I have told him
that I would believe in him all my life. I have no
wish to lie; I loved him before being baptized. If
there came to me any dream, I entreated him to pre-
vent the devil from deceiving me. If there came to
me a thought of taking a second wife, there came
to me another, — that I should offend him; and im-
mediately I gave up my thought. If I was sick,
I asked him for health, [134] only in order to be

166 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

Quelques iours apres fon Baptefme, vn certain Sau-
uage qui eft en quelque confideration parmy ces ges,
& qui a pris noftre Neophyte pour fon fils adoptif,
depuis vn affez long-temps, comit quelque infolece
que le Pere iugea digne d'vne bonne reprehenfion.
Ce barbare extremement fuperbe, fe voulut fafcher
cotre noftre Neophyte, l'aborda & luy dift: Si vous
ne reconnoiflez Dieu pour voftre pere, ie ne vous
feray plus enfant : fi vous luy obei'ffez, ie vous obei-
ray : fi vous le quittez, ie vous quitteray : vous fuyez
le Pere qui nous inftruit, quand il me frapperoit, ie
l'irois voir: qu'eft-ce qu'il vous a iamais demande,
fmon que vous aymamez la paix, & que vous obei'mez
a celuy qui a tout fait? Son Pere luy refpondit, pour
toy mon enfant, tu peux croire, tu peux aymer la
priere, car tu n'es point mechant; c'eft en vain pour
moy que ie prierois, i'ay [t]rop de colere & trop de
malice, il me [fjaudroit aller tous les iours a confeffe,
& encor ne pourroi-ie m'amender.

Vn fien oncle defia bien aage, eftant arriue [135] a
Montreal, aum-toft noftre Neophyte l'aborde, le pr6-
che, l'incite a £couter les difcours du Pere, il l'amene
doucement, & pour l'engager, il luy dift: mon oncle,
iamais, fi vous croyez en Dieu, ie ne me fepareray
d'auec vous ny en terre, ny au Ciel; vous ne ferez
pas ft toft baptife que ie vous obei'ray en tout ce que
vous voudrez ; que fi vous perfeuerez au feruice des
demons, il nous faudra feparer de bonne heure;
efcoutez le Pere, & vous apprendrez qu'il y a vne
autre vie que celle que nous menons en terre,
bien differente des contes qui nous difent que les
ames s'en vont ou le Soleil fe couche. Cet oncle luy

1646] RELATION OF 1643-46 167

baptized; now that I am, my heart has no other
thought than to be with him."

Some days after his Baptism, a certain Savage —
who is in some consideration among these people, and
who has taken our Neophyte for his adopted son,
for a long time past — committed some insolent act
which the Father judged worthy of a suitable rebuke.
That barbarian, extremely haughty, chose to be
angry with our Neophyte, who accosted him and
said: " If you do not acknowledge God as your
father, I will no longer be a son of yours ; if you
obey him, I will obey you; if you leave him, I will
leave you. You shun the Father who instructs us;
though he should strike me, I would go to see him.
What has he ever asked of you, but that you should
love peace, and that you should obey him who has
made all ? ' His Father answered him : " As for
thee, my child, thou canst believe, thou canst love
prayer, for thou art not wicked. As for me, it is in
vain that I should pray, — I have too much anger
and too much malice ; I would have to go every day
to confession, and even then I could not reform
myself."

An uncle of his, already quite aged, having arrived
[135] at Montreal, forthwith our Neophyte accosts
him, preaches to him, and incites him to listen to
the discourses of the Father. He leads him gently,
and in order to pledge him, he said to him: " My
uncle, never, if you believe in God, will I separate
myself from you, either on earth or in Heaven.
You will no sooner be baptized than I will obey you
in all that you shall wish ; but if you persevere in
the service of the demons, we shall have to separate
soon. Listen to the Father, and you will learn that

168 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.29

promit qu'il fe feroit inftruire, mais en ce temps-la
on fit defcendre a Kebec pour quelques affaires le
Pere qui entendoit la langue Algonquine : celuy qui
deuoit aller en fa place, tardant trop au gre" de ce bon
Chreitien, il monte dans fon canot, fait enuiron
foixate lieues de chemin auec vn bon vieillard, vient
trouuer le Pere, & luy dit: Tu t'en es alle fans nous
dire adieu, pendant que nous eftions a la chaffe, nous
te venons requerir, retourne, mon Pere, tout le
monde eft trilte la haut, chacun baiffe la tefte, per-
fonne [136] ne dit mot: ceux qui parlent, difent que
tu n'as point d'efprit de quitter tes enfans. Le Pere
fut touche & leur promit qu'il remonteroit, quand
les vaiffeaux pour lefquels il eftoit defcendu, feroient
fur leur depart. Ce bon Neophyte remontant a
Montreal, fut faifi en chemin d'vne fievre chaude, fi
violente qu'il le fallut decharger du canot, comme
vn corps mort. Sa femme accourt & fe lamente,
tous ceux qui le regardoient, crioient que e'en eftoit
fait : deux Sorciers & Iongleurs le viennent voir, &
luy font offre de leurs chants & de leurs tambours
pour le guerir: le fuis Chreitien, refpondit-il, ie ne
crains point la mort : quand voftre art me pourroit
guerir, ie ne m'en voudrois pas feruir. Vn Payen
qui fe trouua prefent, & qui a quelque bonne inclina-
tion pour la Foy, luy dift: Ie te fcay bon gre, e'eft
ainfi qu'il faut garder la parole qu'on a donnee a celuy
qui a tout fait. Ce pauure malade fut rapporte la
veille de S. Ignace, & le lendemain matin vn Pere de
noftre Compagnie l'allant vifiter, luy dift, qu'a tel
iour eftoit mort vn grad Sainct. qui auoit grandement
ayme la conuerfion de tout le monde, qu'il eftoit

1646J RELA TION OF 1643-46 169

there is another life than the one that we lead on
earth, very different from the tales which tell us that
souls go away to the place where the Sun goes
down." This uncle promised him that he would
become instructed ; but at that time the Father who
understood the Algonquin language was obliged to
go down to Kebec on some business. The Father
who was to go in his place delaying too long to suit
that good Christian, he embarks in his canoe, makes
about sixty leagues of distance with a good old man,
comes to find the Father and says to him: "Thou
wentest away without saying good-by to us, while
we were at the hunt. We come to claim thee; re-
turn, my Father. Every one is sad up there ; each
lowers his head, and no one [136] says a word; those
who speak say that thou hast no sense, to leave thy
children." The Father was touched, and promised
them that he would go up again when the vessels,
for which he had come down, should take their
departure. This good Neophyte, going back to
Montreal, was seized on the way with a burning
fever, — so violent that it was necessary to remove him
from the canoe, like a dead body. His wife hastens
to him and laments; all those who looked at him
cried that it was all over with him. Two Sorcerers
and Jugglers come to see him, and make him an offer
of their songs and of their drums, to cure him. " I
am a Christian," he answers; " I do not fear death;
and, even if your art could heal me, I would not use
it." A Pagan who happened to be present, and who
has some kindly inclination for the Faith, said to
him: " I am pleased with thee; that is the way one
must keep the word that one has given to him who
has made all." This poor patient was brought back

170 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

puiffant aupr£s [137] de Dieu, qu'il luy confeilloit
d'implorer fon fecours; qu'au refte il s'en alloit cele-
brer la faindte MefTe, & qu'il fe fouuiendroit de prier
Dieu pour luy. Le malade fe confeffe, il a recours
a Dieu par 1'interceffion de S. Ignace, & la fievre en
vn moment le quitte: il eftoit ardent comme le feu,
il fe trouue frais, comme vn poiffon, il repofe fort
doucement, en vn mot il eft guery. Cela le toucha
fi fort qu'il voulut en donner la louange a Dieu de-
uant ceux qui l'auoient condamne a mort, il prepare
vn feftin du premier bled d'Inde cuitiue par les
Sauuages: les conuiez croyoient que c'eftoit vn feftin
d'adieu, & qu'il eftoit aux abois: ils entrent en fa
cabane, le voyent fain & gaillard, l'ecoutent auec
eflonnement. Ce ne font pas, dit-il, les tambours
qui m'ont rendu la vie, ie n'ay plus de commerce
auec les demons; c'eft le Dieu du Ciel qui m'a retire
de la mort: ils conf efferent tous que cette guerifon
eftoit extraordinaire, & qu'vn trefpaffe, comme ils le
faifoient, ne pouuoit pas refufciter de foy-mefme &
en ft peu de temps.

Ie coucheray en paffant vne gentille refponfe que
fit fa femme: elle fe nomme [138] en fa langue Ka-
makatetfingb'etch, c'eft a dire qui a la face noire. Le
Pere voyant qu'elle fe cabanoit auec fes gens fur vn
petit ruiffeau, luy dift en riant: Ie voy bien que tu
te loges expres fur le bord de ces eaux, pour te lauer,
en forte qu'on ne te nomme plus la face noire: tu
veux changer de nom, tu veux eftre appellee KaSbin-
gb'etch, c'eft a dire la face blanche. Helas! mon
Pere, refpondit-elle, il n'y a que les eaux du Bap-
tefme que tu me refufes, qui me puiffent faire

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 171

on the eve of St. Ignace ; and the next morning a
Father of our Society, going to visit him, told him
that on such a day had died a great Saint, who had
earnestly desired the conversion of all the world;
that he was powerful with [137] God. The Father
advised him to implore his help; and said that,
furthermore, he was on his way to celebrate the
holy Mass, and that he would remember to pray
to God for him. The sick man confesses; he has
recourse to God, through the intercession of St.
Ignace, and the fever in a moment leaves him : he
was burning like fire, but finds himself cool as a fish ;
he rests very quietly ; in a word, he is cured. That so
deeply touched him that he wished to give the praise
for it to God before those who had doomed him to
death. He prepares a feast of the first Indian corn
cultivated by the Savages: the guests believed that
it was a farewell feast, and that he was in extremity.
They enter his cabin, see him sound and merry, and
listen to him with astonishment. " It was not," he
says, "the drums which restored my life,— I have
no more dealings with the evil spirits ; it is the God
of Heaven who has delivered me from death." They
all acknowledged that this cure was extraordinary,
and that a man deceased, as they regarded him,
could not revive by himself, and in so little time.

I will indite, in passing, a neat answer made by
his wife; she is named, [138] in her own language,
Kamakatewingwetch, — that is to say, " who has the
face black. ' ' The Father, seeing that she had a cabin
with her people at a little brook, said to her, laugh-
ing: " I see well that thou lodgest on the edge of
these waters expressly to wash thyself, so that thou
may st no more be named ' the black face.' Thou

172

LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

changer de nom: cette riuiere ne fcauroit blanchir
mon ame: ce qu'elle defiroit fi ardemment, luy a efte
accorde depuis peu.

Pendant que le Pere eftoit abfent, vn ieune Chre-
ftien fe voulant marier, s'addreffa a Madamoifelle
d'Allibout qui entend affez gentiment la langue Al-
gonquine: Puifque tu nous entends bien, luy dit-il,
ne pourrois-tu pas bien f uppleer au deffaut du Pere ?
nous nous fommes donnez parole vne ieune fille
Chreftienne & moy, ie te fupplie, marie nous publi-
quement en l'Eglife: carle Pere nous deffend de
nous marier en fecret. Cette fimplicite fit lire cette
bonne Damoifelle, qui luy repartit, non fans quelque
rougeur [139] qu'il falloit ou attendre le Pere, ou
defcendre iufques a Kebec.

Vn vieillard aage peut-eftre de 80. ans, s'eft retire
a Montreal : Voicy, dit-il, mon pays, ma mere m'a
raconte qu'eitant ieunes les Hurons nous faifant, la
guerre nous chafferent de cette Ifle, pour moy i'y
veux eftre enterre aupres de mes anceftres. Cet
homme a efte guerrier, fa penfee eftoit bien eloignee
de noftre creance; eftant tombe malade le Pere le
vifite, luy parle d'vne autre vie pleine de plaifirs, ou
de douleurs: mais comme il ne penfoit qu'a la terre,
il n'auoit point d'oreilles ny pour le Paradis, ny pour
l'Enfer. Le Pere voyat que la douceur n'entroit
point dans cette ame, le prechant certain iour fort
extraordinairement auec des menaces d'vn fupplice
eternel, cela ne l'ebranla point. Les Sauuages Chre-
ftiens de fa cabane epouuantez de cette opiniaftrete,
s'ecriet: Prions pour luy, mon Pere, afin que Dieu
luy donne de l'efprit, il ne fcait pas ce que c'eft

1646] RELA TION OF 1643-46 173

wishest to change thy name ; thou wouldst like to be
called Kaoubingwetch," — that is, " the white face."
"Alas! my Father," she answered, "nothing but
the waters of Baptism, which thou refusest me, can
cause me to change my name; this river cannot
whiten my soul." What she desired so ardently
was granted her not long ago.

While the Father was absent, a young Christian,
wishing to marry, addressed himself to Madamoiselle
d'Allibout, who has a very ready knowledge of
the Algonquin language. " Since thou understand-
est us well," he says to her, " canst thou not indeed
supply the lack of the Father? We have given our
word to each other, a young Christian girl and I ; I
beseech thee, marry us publicly in the Church: for
the Father forbids us to marry in secret." This
simplicity made that good Damoiselle laugh; she
answered him, not without some blushes, [139] that
it was necessary either to await the Father, or go
down to Kebec.

An old man, aged perhaps 80 years, has retired to
Montreal. " Here," said he, " is my country. My
mother told me that while we were young, the
Hurons making war on us, drove us from this Island ;
as for me, I wish to be buried in it, near my ances-
tors. ' ' This man has been a warrior ; his mind was
very averse to our belief. Having fallen sick, the
Father visits him, and speaks to him of another life,
full of pleasures or of pains ; but, as he was thinking
only of the earth, he had no ears either for Paradise
or for Hell. The Father, seeing that mildness en-
tered not into that soul, preached to him on a certain
day with unusual force, and with threats of an eter-
nal torture ; but that moved him not. The Christian

174 LES RELATIONS DES J^SU/TES [Vol.29

d'eftre brule" pour iamais au pays des demons. Le
Pere fe met a genoux, & en fuitte tous les Chreftiens,
& mefme encore tous les Payens, il prie d'vne voix
forte, il coniure celuy qui a tant fouffert [140] pour
les hommes d'auoir pitie de ce pauure miferable,
qu'on ne croyoit pas deuoir paffer la nuidt, tout le
monde repete mot a mot la mefme priere. Ce
pauure vieillard eftone" de cette facon de faire, fut
touched les larmes luy tombent des yeux, il s'ecrie
en fanglotant : le fuis mefchant, ie n'ay point d'efprit,
ie quitteray bien aifement les feftins a tout manger,
les chants fuperftitieux ; mais ma colere m'a rendu
mefchat par toute la terre, iufques aux riuages de
l'autre mer: Priez pour moy, difoit-il, pleurant a
chaudes larmes, arm que toutes mes malices foient
effacees. Le Pere le voyat bien difpofe, le careffe,
le penfe luy-mef me : En vn mot ce pauure homme
retourne encor en fant6, il dit maintenant par tout
que le Pere l'a guery, & qu'il luy a enfeigne des
chofes qui le font, reuiure.

Quand on luy difoit qu'il feroit vn iour dans la
fleur de fon aage, & que cette fleur ne flaitriroit ia-
mais, & que le Fils de Dieu s'eftant fait homme, nous
auoit acquis ce bon-heur, il ne pouuoit contenir fa
ioye : O Nicanis, ce que tu dis, eft admirable, parle
bien haut & m'enfeigne fouuent, c'eft tout de bon
que ie veux croire.

On ne pouuoit deuant cette touche, luy [141] faire
reconnoiftre fes offenfes, il eftoit le plus innocent
homme du monde: I'eftois bon, difoit-il, deuant que
tous les Sauuages qui font fur la terre, fuffent nez,
il fe croyoit le plus aage des hommes. Si toll qu'il

1646J RELA TION OF 1645-46 175

Savages of his cabin, frightened at this obstinacy,
exclaim: " Let us pray for him, my Father, to the
end that God may give him sense; he knows not
what it is to be burned forever in the country of
the demons." The Father kneels down, and after-
ward all the Christians, and even all the Pagans also ;
he prays in a loud voice, — he entreats him who has
so greatly suffered [140] for men, to have pity on
this poor wretch, who, it was believed, could not
survive the night; every one repeats, word for word,
the same prayer. The poor old man, astonished at
such a proceeding, was touched; the tears fall from
his eyes, he exclaims, with sobs: " I am wicked, I
have no sense. I shall very easily give up the eat-
all feasts and the superstitious songs; but my anger
has rendered me wicked throughout the earth, even
to the shores of the other sea. Pray for me, " he
said, weeping with hot tears, " to the end that all
my evil acts be washed away." The Father, seeing
him well disposed, soothes him, and himself nurses
him. In a word, that poor man again returns to
health ; he now says everywhere that the Father has
cured him, and that he has taught him things which
make him live again.

When he was told that some day he should be in the
flower of his youth, and that this bloom would never
wither; and that the Son of God, having been made
man, had acquired for us that happiness, he could
not contain his joy. " O Nicanis, what thou sayest
is admirable ; speak very loud, and teach me often :
it is in good earnest that I wish to believe."

One could not, before this stroke, [141] make him
acknowledge his offenses, — he was the most inno-
cent man in the world. " I was good," he would

176 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

fut touche, il parla bien vn autre langage, il fe difoit
le plus mefchant qui fut fous le Ciel/ il inuitoit tous
fes gens a 6couter la dodtrine de Iesvs- Ch rist;
on l'entendoit la nuidt prier Dieu, rei'terant par vn
long-temps vne mefme priere toute pleine d'affedtion,
il fe faifoit inftruire comme vn enfant ; fe glorifiant
quand il retenoit quelque poindt de noftre creance,
il repetoit fa lecon pendant la nuidt, fouhaitant de
fcauoir bien-toft ce qui eftoit neceffaire pour receuoir
le Baptefme.

II auoit efte pris plufieurs fois des Iroquois: le
priois, difoit-il, celuy qui nourrit & qui conferue les
homes, & ie croyois toufiours qu'il m'ayderoit a me
fauuer, lors mefme que mes amis me bruleroient
defia.

Les abyfmes de la prouidence de Dieu, font ex-
tremement profonds. Cet homme qui a paffe toute
fa vie dans vne liberte de Sauuage, & dans la fureur
de la guerre, [142] deuint vn petit agneau deuant fa
mort, tout prefl de lauer les taches de fon ame dans
le fang de celuy qui a voulu eftre la vidtime & le
facrifice pour nos pechez.

L'vne des chofes que nous inculquons plus forte-
ment aux Sauuages, eft d'auoir recours a Dieu du
fonds de leur cceur, de le prier dans les befoins, &
de fe confier en fa bonte & en fa toute-puiffance :
voicy ce quelques-vns d'entr'eux nous ont rapporte.

Deux Sauuages Payens eftans affamez pourfui-
uoient vn Cerf ; l'vn le fuiuoit a la pifte dans le bois,
l'autre trauerfoit vne riuiere glacee pour luy couper
chemin, fe voyant tous deux hors d'haleine, ils fe
mettent a genoux, l'vn fur la neige & l'autre fur la

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 111

say, " before all the Savages who are on the earth
were born," — he believed himself the oldest of men.
As soon as he was stricken, he spoke a very differ-
ent language, — he called himself the most wicked
person beneath the Sky. He invited all his people
to listen to the doctrine of Jesus Christ; he was
heard at night, praying to God, reiterating a long
time the same prayer, all full of affection ; he became
instructed, like a child. Glorying when he retained
some point of our belief, he repeated his lesson
during the night, — desiring to know very soon what
was necessary in order to receive Baptism.

He had been captured several times by the Iro-
quois. " I prayed," he said, " to him who feeds
and preserves men ; and I always believed that he
would aid me to escape, even though my friends
should already be burning me."

The depths of the providence of God are extreme-
ly profound. This man, who has spent all his life
in a Savage's freedom, and in the fury of war, [142]
became a little lamb before his death, — all ready to
wash the stains from his soul in the blood of him
who consented to be the victim and the sacrifice for
our sins.

One of the things which we inculcate most strongly
upon the Savages, is to have recourse to God from
the depths of their hearts, to pray to him in their
needs, and to trust themselves to his goodness and
to his omnipotence. Here follows what some among
them have related to us.

Two Pagan Savages, being famished, were pur-
suing a Stag ; the one was following it by the trail
in the woods, the other was crossing a frozen river
in order to cut off its course. Finding themselves

178 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

glace, fans que l'vn fceut le deffein de l'autre; leur
priere eflant faite, ils fe fentent fortifiez, ils repren-
nent courage, pourfuiuent leur proye auec plus d'ar-
deur, l'ayants laff6e, la tuent, & fe mettent a genoux
fur fon corps, remerciants Dieu de leur auoir donn6
a manger.

Deux ieunes Chreftiens ayant pourfuiuy trop opi-
niaitrement vn Elan, fansrien porter auec eux qu'vne
epee, furent quatre iours dans la neige & dans la
rigueur [143] d'vn froid eftrange, fans feu & fans
autre abry qu'vn mef chant bout, de coauerture tout
vfe qui leur feruoit de robe, de lict, de feu & de mai-
fon. Se trouuans dans cette extremite, le plus foible
des deux dit a fon compagnon, ie n'en puis plus, ie
fuis mort, fe tournant vers Dieu au fond de fon ame.
II nous dift apres qu'il fentit tout a coup vne chaleur
qui fe repandit par tout fon corps, & qui luy conti-
nua toute la nuidt, & par ce moyen luy fauua la vie
& a fon compagnon : car il le rechauff oit par cette
ardeur, qui le faifoit, difoit-il, quad fuer.

Vn Sauuage Payen, & d'vn tres-mauuais naturel,
voyant fon enfant aux abois, vient treuuer le Pere, &
luy dit: tu nous dis que ceux qui font baptifez, vont
au Ciel, & qu'ils font remplis de delices, viens done, ie
te prie, baptifer deuant fa mort mon enfant : car ie
luy veux procurer ce bon-heur, 1' amour naturel auec
vn petit grain de Foy, font capables de faire fauuer
vne ame. Le Pere luy dit, pourquoy ne te procures
tu pas ce mefme bon-heur a toy-mefme? attends,
dit-il, encore quelque temps, ie fuis maintenant trop
mef chant. Le premier iour de l'an, [144] on tira
quelques pieces de canon des le poindt du iour pour

1 646J RELA T10N OF 1643 -46 179

both out of breath, they kneel down, — the one on
the snow, and the other on the ice, without knowing
each other's purpose. Their prayer being done,
they feel themselves strengthened ; they take fresh
courage and pursue their prey with more ardor.
Having fatigued it, they kill it, and kneel over its
body, thanking God for having given them food.

Two young Christians — having too obstinately
pursued an Elk, without carrying with them any-
thing but a javelin — were four days in the snow and
in the rigor [143] of an unusual cold, without fire
and without other shelter than a sorry piece of blan-
ket, all worn, which served them as robe, bed, fire,
and house. Finding themselves in this extremity,
the weaker of the two said to his companion: " I
can do no more; I am dead," — turning toward God
in the depth of his soul. He told us afterward, that
he felt all at once a warmth which spread itself over
all his body, and which continued with him the
whole night, and thus saved his life and his com-
panion's, for he warmed him also with that heat,
which made him, he said, almost sweat.

A Pagan Savage, and one of a very evil nature,
seeing his child in extremity, comes to find the Fa-
ther and says to him: "Thou tellest us that those
who are baptized go to Heaven, and that they are
filled with rapture. Come then, I beg thee, to bap-
tize my child before its death ; for I wish to procure
it this happiness." Natural love, with a little grain
of Faith, is able to effect the salvation of a soul.
The Father said to him : ' ' Why dost thou not pro-
cure this same happiness for thyself?" " Wait,"
said he, " some time longer; I am now too wicked."
The first day of the year, [144] some pieces of

180 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.29

honorer la Fefte : les Sauuages allarmez accourent,
demandent ce que c'efl, on leur dit qu'a mefme iour
le Fils de Dieu auoit efte" nomme Iesvs: c'efl a dire
Sauueur, & que le bruit des canons donnoit a enten-
dre qu'il le falloit honorer: allons, fe dirent-ils, les
vns aux autres, & luy rendons ce mefme honneur:
ils chargent leurs arquebufes, & font vne falue fort
gentille.

Le iour du faindt Sacrement, ils vouliirent afiifter
a la Proceffion: on fit marcher vne efcoiiade d'arque-
bufiers Francois, les Payens eftoient de la partie auffi
bien que les Chreftiens. Ils marcherent tous deux a
deux, auec vn bel ordre & vne belle modeftie, depuis
la Chappelle iufques a l'Hofpital, ou on auoit dreffe
vn beau Repof oir. II eft bien difficile de voir Iesvs-
Christ honore par des Barbares, fans en reff entir
de la ioye iufques au profond du cceur.

Pour conclufion de ce Chapitre, ie diray deux mots
de grande confolation. Le Capitaine Huron, dont
i'ay fait mention cy-deffus, ayant veu la beaute des
bleds d'Inde de Montreal, a pris refolution d'aller
[145] querir fa famille, & d'en amener encore vne
autre pour y venir faire leur demeure ; s'il continue
dans fa penfee, il ebranlera beaucoup d'Hurons, &
ie ne puis douter que fi les Iroquois plus hauts ne
defcendent point iufques a Montreal, cette Ifle ne fe
peuple de Sauuage[s] auec le temps, & que Dieu n'y
foit honore.

Le Pere Ifaac Iogues qui eft retourne aux Iroquois
pour y paffer l'hyuer, a dans fes ordres de faire tout
fon poffible d' inciter a la paix tous les Iroquois fupe-
rieurs, qu'il verra dans les bourgades des Annierron-

1646] RELATION OF 1643-46 181

cannon were fired at daybreak, to honor the Feast;
the Savages run up in alarm, and ask what that is.
They are told that on that day the Son of God had
been named Jesus, — that is, " Savior; ' and that
the noise of the cannon signified that he should be
honored. " Come," they said to one another, " and
let us render him that same honor ; ' ' they load their
arquebuses, and fire a very neat salute.

On the day of the blessed Sacrament, they wished
to be present in the Procession ; there was in the march
a squad of French arquebusiers, and the Pagans, as
well as the Christians, took part therein. They all
marched two by two, in fine order and with becom-
ing modesty, from the Chapel even to the Hospital,
where had been set up a beautiful temporary Altar.
It is very difficult to see Jesus Christ honored by
Barbarians, without feeling joy thereat, even to the
depth of the heart.

As conclusion to this Chapter, I will make two
statements of great consolation. The Huron Captain
whom I mentioned above, having observed the fine
appearance of the Indian corn at Montreal, has taken
the resolution to go [145] and fetch his family, and
to bring still another, in order to come and make
their dwelling there. If he continues in his pur-
pose, he will influence many Hurons; and I cannot
doubt that, unless the upper Iroquois come down as
far as Montreal, that Island will be peopled with Sav-
ages in course of time, and that God will be honored
there.

Father Isaac Jogues, who has returned to the
Iroquois to pass the winter there, has among his
orders to do all in his power to incline to peace all
the upper Iroquois whom he shall see in the villages

182 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.29

nons; & en cas de refus, il a commifllon de preffer
fortement les Annierronnons de les empefcher de
venir fur la Riuiere des prairies, par oil paffent les
Hurons bornans leurs guerres fur le grand fleuue de
faindt Laurent bien loing au dela de Montreal, ou du
moins de leur deffendre de ne point approcher de
cette Ifle, ny des pays qui font vis a vis de leurs bour-
gades: comme eftant en quelque facon de leur
diftridt. Si Dieu nous accorde cette benediction,
cette Ifle fera le centre de la paix : comme elle a efte"
l'objet de toutes les guerres. La patience, & la
confiance emportent tout.

1646] RELA TION OF 1643-46 183

of the Annierronnons ; and, in case of refusal, he has
commission strongly to urge the Annierronnons to
prevent the former from coming upon the River des
prairies, where the Hurons pass, — limiting their
wars on the great river of saint Lawrence very far
beyond Montreal, — or at least to forbid them to
approach that Island, or the countries which are
opposite their villages, as being in some sense of
their own district. If God grant us this blessing,
that Island will be the center of the peace, as it has
been the object of all the wars. Patience and confi-
dence overcome everything.

184 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

[146] CHAPITRE IX.

DE QUELQUES BONNES ACTIONS, & DE QUELQUES
BONS SENTIMENS DES SAUUAGES CHRESTIENS.

VN Francis ne pouuant tirer vangeance d'vn tort
qu'il croyoit liiy auoir efte fait, prit refolution
de faire tomber en peche le plus de Sauuages
qu'il pourroit, afin de perdre le pays, n'ignorant pas
non plus que ce mal-heureux Confeiller dont il eft
parle dans l'Efcriture, que le moyen de perdre vn
peuple, c'eft de le faire bander contre fon Dieu: il
caiole quelques filles, les inuite a boire a deffein de
les enyurer pour paffer d'vn crime a vn autre. Les
femmes Sauuages ne font non plus blafmees de leurs
compatriottes, pour fcauoirtenir vne tace en main que
les Angloifes, ou les Flamandes: celles-cy ayant beu,
cet impie s'approche pour les careffer: mais vne
Chreftienne qui eftoit de la bande, prit la parole. Ie
voy bien ton deffein, mal-heureux que [147] tu es:
c'eft le peche, & non la charite qui t'anime: Va mef-
chant, n'a-tu point de honte, toy qui es baptife des
ta naiffance, de nous porter au mal, ne penfe pas nous
perdre par tes bien-faits, nous craignons celuy qui a
tout fait, nous ne voulons pas l'offencer. Cet homme
bien eftonne perdit la parole, Dieu le toucha par la
voix d'vne femme, il va trouuer le Pere qui a foin
des Sauuages, il s'accufe ingenuement de fa faute,
proteftant qu'il alloit changer de vie, & de brifee, &
qu'au lieu de fcandalifer les Sauuages, il feroit fon
poffible pour cooperer a leur conuerfion.

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 185

[146] CHAPTER IX.

OF SOME GOOD DEEDS AND SOME GOOD SENTIMENTS
OF THE CHRISTIAN SAVAGES.

A FRENCHMAN, unable to take revenge for
a wrong which he believed had been done
him, took the resolution to entice into sin as
many Savages as he could, so as to ruin the coun-
try,— not being ignorant, any more than that miser-
able Counselor of whom there is mention in Scrip-
ture, that the way to ruin a people is to cause it to
take sides against its God. He cajoles some girls,
and invites them to drink, on purpose to intoxicate
them, in order to pass from one crime to another.
The Savage women are not more blamed by their
fellow-countrymen for knowing how to hold the cup
in their hands, than the English women or the Flem-
ish. These girls having drunk, that impious one
approaches to caress them ; but a Christian girl who
was of the company began to speak : " I see well thy
design, wretch that [147] thou art; it is sin, and not
charity, that animates thee. Begone, base man;
hast thou no shame, thou who art baptized from thy
birth, to incline us to wrong? Do not think to ruin
us by thy favors ; we fear him who has made all, —
we do not wish to offend him." That man, much
astonished, had no more to say; God touched him by
the voice of a woman. He goes to find the Father
who has charge of the Savages; he frankly accuses
himself of his sin, protesting that he was going to

186 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

Vn infidele aymant paffionn6ment vne fille Cate-
chumene, la vifite fouuent, luy donne des indices de
fon amour, mais en vain : car il eft toufiours conftam-
ment rebute. Ce miferable croyant que la Foy feule
conferuoit la purete" dans cette ame, ne parle plus de
fa paflion : mais il s'efforce de faper doucement ce
qui luy fait refiftance. II iette des brocars contre la
Foy, il fe gauffe de ceux qui croyent a des eftran-
gers, en vn mot il reuoque noftre creance en doute.
Cette bonne fille decouurant fa malice, luy dit: tu
te [148] trompes bien fort, n'ayant pu m'6branler
d'vn cofte\ tu m'attaques de l'autre. Scache que la
priere eft la chofe la plus precieufe que i'aye au
monde, tu m'ofterois pluftoft la vie que la Foy. Ce
frippon eftoit nepueu d vne femme veritablement
Chreftienne qui luy feruoit de mere, elle defeichoit
tous les iours voyant fes debauches. Le Pere qui la
conduifoit s'eftant apperceu de fon ennuy, luy en
demanda laraifon, helas! dit-elle, fi quand quelqu'vn
de nos amis eft pris des Iroquois pour eftre brule\
nous en reffentons de la douleur quafi iufques a la
mort: comment pourrois-je viure voyant l'vn de mes
plus proches, lie" par les demons, qui s'efForcent de
le ietter dans vn feu eternel?

Vn autre infidele fecourant vne pauure veufue
Chreftienne, luy demanda pour recompenfe ce que
la pudeur & la loy de Dieu deffendent de donner:
helas! fit-elle,''ce que tu defires, eft hors de ma puif-
fance, ie ne puis plus fafcher celuy qui a tout fait :
car ie fuis Chreftienne: oily mais, repart-il, qui te
preftera f ecours dans ta neceffite ? ou trouueras-tu des
robes, & des viures? la Foy ne t'en donnera [149]
pas. Ta parole ne vaut rien, les robes & les viures

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 187

change the conduct and course of his life ; and that,
instead of scandalizing the Savages, he would do his
utmost to cooperate in their conversion.

An infidel, passionately loving a girl who was a
Catechumen, visits her often and gives her indica-
tions of his love,- -but in vain, for he is always
steadfastly rejected. This wretch, believing that
the Faith alone preserved purity in that soul, speaks
no more of his passion ; but he strives quietly to un-
dermine that which offers him resistance. He casts
taunts at the Faith, he jeers at those who believe in
strangers ; in a word, he calls in question our belief.
That good girl, discovering his malice, says to him:
" Thou [148] art very much deceived; not having
been able to unsettle me in one direction, thou
attackest me in the other. Know that prayer is the
most precious thing that I have in the world : thou
shouldst sooner take away my life than the Faith."
This deceiver was nephew to a truly Christian wom-
an, who was to him as a mother; she was wasting
away every day, seeing his debauches. The Father
who directed her, having perceived her trouble,
asked her the reason of it. " Alas! " she said, " if,
when one of our friends is taken by the Iroquois, to
be burned, we feel grief for it, almost even unto
death, how could I live, seeing one of my nearest
kindred bound by the demons, who are striving to
cast him into an eternal fire ? ' '

Another infidel, helping a poor Christian widow,
asked her, as recompense, that which decency and
the law of God forbid to give. "Alas!" she said,
' what thou desirest is beyond my power; I cannot
further offend him who has made all, for I am a
Christian." "Yes," he answers, "but who will

L88 LES RELATIONS DES J fiSUITES [Vol.29

ne font pas d' importance, la Foy eft de prix & de
valeur; cela dit, elle s'eloigne de cet impudent, &
Dieu ne l'abandonna pas.

Comme elle eft d'vne affez belle humeur, quelque
temps apres vn autre l'attaqua, tu ne fcais peut-eftre
pas luy dit-elle, que ie prie & que ie fuis baptifee.
A ces paroles il tire vn collier de 7. ou 800. grains
de Porcelaine pour 1'ebloiiir, elle luy repart en fe
moquantde luy, ny toy ny tesprefens ne valent rien,
la parole de Dieu eft confiderable, fi tu te veux dam-
ner, damne toy tout feul, n'en traifne point d'autres
apres toy.

Vn ieune homme Chreftien, auoit parle dans les
bois a. vne autre f emme que la fienne : il ne fut pas
fi toft arriue en la demeure des Francois, que ceux
qui l'auoient veu, l'accuferent publiquement au Pere.
Ce pauure homme affez coupable demande pardon
de fon offence, fe vient confeffer auec de groffes
larmes, proteftant que iamais plus il ne cauferoit vn
tel fcandale. Son feul regret fut que le Pere luy
auoit done vne trop legere penitence, il demandoit
permiffion de fe battre foy-mefme.

[150] Vne fille affez pauure ayant efte contrainte
par la neceffite, d'epoufer vn infidele, fe voyant mal
traitee pour ce qu'elle prioit Dieu, fe contenta de
faire fes prieres en fecret, fans fe mettre a. genoux
deuant les Payens: les Chreftiens s'en eftant apper-
ceus en font fcandalifez, l'vn d'eux fe leue publique-
ment dans la Chappelle, & apoftrophant le Pere, luy
dit, Mon Pere, ecoute ma parolle: cette femme que
tu vois deuant tes yeux s'eft laiffee tromper par le
diable, elle s'eft mariee a. vn mefchant homme, qui
la rendue fole, regarde maintenant ce que tu luy

1646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 189

lend thee aid in thy necessity? Where wilt thou
find clothing and provisions? the Faith will not give
thee these." [149] "Thy word is worth nothing,
and clothing and provisions are of no importance;
the Faith is of price and of value." That said, she
withdraws from that shameless man, and God did
not abandon her.

As she has a very amiable disposition, another man
attacked her, some time afterward. " Thou dost not
perhaps know," she says to him, " that I pray, and
that I am baptized." At these words, he draws
forth a necklace of 7 or 800 Porcelain beads, to dazzle
her. She answers, mocking him, " Neither thou
nor thy presents are of any value ; the word of God
is most important. If thou wilt damn thyself, damn
thyself all alone, — do not drag others after thee."

A Christian young man had spoken in the woods
to another woman than his wife ; he had no sooner
arrived at the residence of the French than those who
had seen him accused him publicly to the Father.
This poor man, guilty enough, asks pardon for his
offense, and comes to confession with great tears,—
protesting that never more would he cause a like
scandal. His only regret was that the Father had
given him too light a penance ; he asked permission
to beat himself.

[150] A girl who was quite poor, having been
constrained by necessity to marry an infidel, finding
that she was ill-treated because she prayed to God,
contented herself with saying her prayers in secret,
without kneeling before the Pagans. The Chris-
tians, having perceived this, are scandalized ; one of
them rises publicly in the Chapel, and addressing
the Father, says to him: " My Father, listen to my

190 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

doibs dire, puis fe tournant vers elle, viens ca, luy
dit-il, leue toy, feras tu fage dorefnauant? confeffe
toy, & ouure tes oreilles aux paroles, que te dira le
Pere. La pauure creature qui auoit defia quitte' ce
Payen, fouffrit cette confufion auec vn grand regret
de fon offenfe, elle fe confeffa fi candidement, & don-
na tant de preuues de fa douleur, & de fa conftance
en la Foy, que le Pere en fut tout edifie\

Ce zele fait que les Chreftiens fe tiennent en leur
deuoir, & que les Payens refpectent la docftrine de
Iesvs-Christ, [151] & qu'ils ne l'embraffent point
qu'auec vn defir de la garder.

On ordonna a vn Chreftien qui auoit fait quelque
faute en public, de baifer trois fois la terre en la
Chappelle; comme il s'en acquittoit, vne femme
defia aagee, luy dift, ne fais point cela pour fatis-
faire a nos yeux, il faut que tu fois marry au fond de
ton cceur d'auoir fache celuy qui a tout fait; &
iettant les yeux fur fon camarade, qu'elle fcauoit
eft re coupable de la mefme faute, elle luy dift, & toy
vn tel, tu penfes peut-eftre que ton peche n'eft plus
dans ton ame, pource qu'il n'eft pas connu du Pere;
La, la, baife la terre auffi bien que ton compagnon,
tu n'es pas plus fage que luy, appaifons Dieu quand
nous l'auons offenfe. Ce pauure garcon n'vfa d'au-
cune replique, il ne fe fit point tirer 1'oreille, & fut
pluftoft a terre que la parole ne ceffa en la bouche
de cette femme: dont on modera doucement la fer-
ueur.

A mefme temps vn homme fe leuant, s'ecria: puif-
que nos fautes font publiques, c'eft bien fait d'en
crier mercy a Dieu publiquement : mon deffein n'eft
pas de bleff er, mais de guerir : Leuez vous vne telle,

1646J RELATION OF 1643-46 191

word. This woman, whom thou seest before thine
eyes, has allowed herself to be deceived by the
devil; she has married a wicked man, who has ren-
dered her a fool. Consider now what thou oughtst
to say to her." Then, turning toward her, he says:
"Come, now; stand up. Wilt thou be discreet
hereafter? Confess, and open thine ears to the
words that the Father will say to thee." The poor
creature, who had already left that Pagan, suffered
this embarrassment with great regret for her offense ;
she confessed so candidly, and gave so many proofs
of her sorrow and of her constancy in the Faith, that
the Father was altogether edified thereby.

This zeal causes the Christians to remain in their
duty, and the Pagans to respect the doctrine of
Jesus Christ; [151] and it leads them to embrace
it only with a desire to observe it.

A Christian, who had committed some fault in
public, was ordered to kiss three times the earth in
the Chapel. While he was performing this, a woman
already aged said to him : ' ' Do not do that in order
to satisfy our eyes; thou must be grieved in the
depth of thy heart at having offended him who has
made all." Then, casting her eyes upon his com-
rade, whom she knew to be guilty of the same fault,
she said to him: "And thou," — calling him by
name, — -" thinkest thou perhaps that thy sin is no
more in thy soul, because it is not known to the Fa-
ther? There, there, kiss the earth as well as thy
companion, — thou art no better than he; let us
appease God, when we have offended him." That
poor lad made no answer; he did not need to have
his ears pulled, and touched the earth before the

192 LES RELATIONS DES JES UITES [Vol.29

[152] chacun f9ait que vous eftes vne acariaftre.
Vous mon Pere, qui determinez des prieres & des
fautes, ordonnez du remede neceff aire pour faire reue-
nir l'efprit a cette fille : elle a des compagnes, qui ne
font pas plus fages que les garcons, fi elles ne s'amen-
dent, il les faudra punir auffi bien que les autres.

Vne pauure vefue compatiffant a f on fils fort malade
qu'elle aymoit comme l'vnique fouftien de fa vieil-
leffe, ne fcachant a quel Medecin auoir recours, vne
Sorciere fe prefenta pour le guerir. C'eftoit puiffam-
ment tenter vne pauure femme qui n'a autre appuy
que fon enfant: mais la grace fut plus forte que la
nature, & Dieu plus puiilant que les demons. Cette
bonne mere refpondit doucement, nous autres qui
croyons en Dieu, ne nous feruons point de demons,
i'ayme mieux perdre la veue de mon fils que de per-
dre mon ame & la fienne ; fi ie fuis pauure & delaif-
fee, ce ne fera pas pour long-temps, il faut fouffrir
en ce monde, pour ne point fouffrir en l'autre. La
Sorciere fe mit en cholere entendant la refponfe de
cette pauure affligee, l'appellant vne cruelle de ne
vouloir pas fauuer la vie a fon enfant; [153] a cela
point de repartie, la patience eft muette, quand fes
paroles donneroient de l'aigreur.

Dieu a confondu nos penfees & renuerfe les fonde-
mens ou les principes fur lefquels nous baftiffions.
Nous n'arroufions au commencement que les ieunes
plantes, meprifant quafi ces vieilles fouches qui
paroiffoient incapables de porter aucun frui<5t, mais
Dieu les a fait reuerdir tres-auantageufemet. Nous
auons veu des homes & des femmes tres-aagez auffi
feruens dans le Chriftianifme qu'vn Nouice de vingt
ans dans vne maifon Religieufe. Vne vieille aagee

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 193

words ceased on that woman's lips; while her fervor
was gently moderated.

At the same time, a man rose and exclaimed:
' ' Since our faults are public, it is well done to cry for
mercy on them publicly to God. My design is not
to wound, but to heal. Stand up, such a one; [152]
every one knows that you are a bad-tempered girl.
You, my Father, who decide upon prayers and upon
faults, order some needful remedy for bringing back
sense to this girl. She has companions who are no
better than the lads; unless they reform, it will be
necessary to punish them as well as the others."

A poor widow sympathizing with her invalid
son, whom she loved as the sole support of her old
age, not knowing to what Physician to have recourse,
a Sorceress presented herself to cure him. This was
a strong temptation to a poor woman, who has no
other support than her child ; but grace was stronger
than nature, and God more powerful than the de-
mons. This good mother gently answered: " We
who believe in God do not avail ourselves of demons.
I prefer losing sight of my son to losing my soul
and his. If I am poor and forsaken, it will not be
for long; it is necessary to suffer in this world in
order not to suffer in the other." The Sorceress
became angry, on hearing the answer of that poor
afflicted one, and called her a cruel woman for not
consenting to save the life of her child. [153] To
that she made no reply; patience is mute when its
words might cause acrimony.

God has confounded our thoughts and overthrown
the foundations or the principles on which we were
building. We watered, at the start, only the young
plants, — despising, as it were, those old stumps

194 LES RELATIONS DES J ESUITES [Vol.29

d'enuiron 80. ans, auoit vn fils tres-bon Chreftien,
c'eftoit le bafton de fa vieilleffe & l'appuy de toute
fa famille, ayant efte' miferablement tue, fa pauure
mere apporta fix peaux de Caftor pour faire prier
Dieu pour fon ame, mais on luy fit l'aumofne de fon
propre bien : car a peine eut-on pu trouuer vne per-
sone plus pauure, il n'eft pas croyable combien cette
femme a la confcience tendre, & combien grand eft
le foulagement qu'elle trouue dans les Sacremens de
la Penitece & de l'Euchariitie. Celt, la qu'elle noye
toutes fes angoiffes & tous [154] fes ennuys, c'eft la
ou elle puife des forces pour fouffrir l'abfence de
quantite d'enfans que la mort luy a rauy, 1' ayant
laiffee feule dans l'extremite de fon aage: en vn mot
qui la veut refioiiyr, il luy faut parler du Ciel, elle a
vne confiance fi fimple & fi droite, qu'on diroit qu'elle
eft toute afleuree d'y entrer. Cela ne luy eft pas
particulier, plufieurs Sauuages marchans dans les
voyes qu'on leur prefcrit, fe feruans des remedes que
Dieu a laiffez en fon Eglife, s'en vont a la mort
comme a l'entree de la vie, fans peur, fans crainte,
fans aucun trouble, fe tenans affeurez qu'ayans garde
de bonne foy les conditions que Dieu demande dans
le contradt qu'il a paffe auec nous de nous donner
fon Paradis, cette bonte fupreme ne nous manquera
pas de fon cofte\ La droiture & la fimplicite
donnent de grandes affeurances aux ames dociles.

Vne pauure femme fouffrant de grandes douleurs
dans vn corps languiffant, difoit a celuy qui luy
demandoit, fi elle n'auoit point apprehenfion de la
mort, pourquoy la craindrois-ie ? puis qu'en mou-
rant ie verray celuy qui a tout fait, helas ! c'eft mon
bon-heur: mais neantmoins [155] ie ne demande

1646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 195

which appeared incapable of bearing any fruit ; but
God has made them put forth green shoots again, to
great advantage. We have seen very aged men and
women as fervent in Christianity as a Novice of
twenty years in a Religious house. An old woman,
aged about 80 years, had a very good Christian son ;
he was the staff of her old age, and the support of
her whole family. Having been miserably slain,
his poor mother brought six Beaver skins, in order
to have prayers offered to God for his soul ; but she
was given alms of her own property, — for hardly
could one have found a person more destitute. It
is not credible how tender a conscience this woman
has, and how great is the solace that she finds in the
Sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist. In them
she drowns all her anguish and all [154] her weari-
ness ; from them she derives strength to endure the
absence of many children, of whom death has robbed
her, having left her alone in the extremity of her
age. In a word, he who would gladden her must
speak to her of Heaven; she has a confidence so
simple and so upright that one might say that she
is wholly assured of entering that place. That is
not peculiar to her; many Savages, walking in the
ways which are prescribed for them, using remedies
which God has left in his Church, go hence to death
as to the entrance into life, — without fear, without
dread, without any agitation. They hold themselves
assured that — having kept in good faith the condi-
tions which God requires in the contract which he
has made with us, to give us his Paradise — that
supreme goodness will not fail us on his side. Up-
rightness and simplicity give great assurances to
docile souls.

196 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

rien; Voicy toute ma priere: tu es mon maiftre,
difpofe de moy felon ta volont6, ie ne veux rien
autre chofe.

Ce Chapitre reflemble a ces ouurages faits a la
Mofai'que, il eft compofe de pieces rapportees.

Vn Iroquois faifant du Thrafon, fe mocquoit de la
mort deuant les Algonquins: il vouloit paroiftre vn
Guillaume fans peur, ou comme vn Samfon qui feul
brauoit les Philiftins dans leur propre pais. Vn Al-
gonquin a. qui la Foy auoit defille les yeux & donn6
de la modeftie, luy dit, on void bien mon cher amy,
que vous ne connoiffez pas bien celuy qui abaiffe &
qui eleue quand il luy plaift, il n'y a pas long-temps
que 1' ombre des Algonquins vous faifoit peur, vous
les meprifez maintenant, pour ce que leurs pechez
les ont exterminez : mais ne faites pas le fuperbe, la
main qui les a frappez eft capable de les guerir & de
vous maffacrer. Ce langage nouueau en la bouche
d'vn Sauuage Chreltien, n'eut point de repartie en
celle d'vn fuperbe Iroquois.

Vne femme ne pouuant fe deliurer de fes couches,
foufrrit quatre iours [156] des douleurs extremes:
celles qui la gardoient, accourent aux Peres : car ils
font en toutes chofes le refuge & le confeil de ce
pauure peuple. On leur donna quelques reliques de
defunct. Monfieur Bernard bien connu dans la France :
a peine la gifante les eut-elle pendues a fon col,
qu'elle accoucha d'vn bel enfant, cela donna bien de
l'eftonnement a tous les Sauuages; Si bien qu'vn
autre eftant trauaille d'vne violente fievre, & follicite
par quelques Payens d'auoir recours a leurs fuperfti-
tions diaboliques, leur ferma l'oreille pour l'ouurir
aux confeils des Peres qui luy firent porter cette

1646] RELATION OF 1643-46 197

A poor woman, suffering great pains in a languish-
ing body, said to one who was asking her whether
she had no fear of death: " Why should I dread it?
since on dying I shall see him who has made all.
Alas! that is my happiness; but, nevertheless, [155]
I ask nothing. This is all my prayer: ' Thou art
my master, — dispose of me according to thy will;
I wish no other thing.' "

This Chapter resembles those works composed in
Mosaic ; it is made up of related fragments.

An Iroquois acting the Thraso, mocking at death
before the Algonquins, wished to appear a Guil-
laume without fear, — or as a Samson who, alone,
defied the Philistines in their own country. An
Algonquin, whose eyes the Faith had opened, and to
whom it had given modesty, said to him: " One sees
well, my dear friend, that you are not well acquainted
with him who brings down and who lifts up when he
pleases. Not long ago, the shadow of the Algon-
quins made you afraid ; you now despise them be-
cause their sins have exterminated them. But do
not act haughtily ; the hand which has struck them
is able to heal them, and to massacre you." This
language, new on the lips of a Christian Savage, met
no reply from those of an arrogant Iroquois.

A woman, unable to deliver herself in her confine-
ment, suffered four days [156] with extreme pains;
those who were attending her hasten to the Fathers ;
for they are in all things the refuge and the counsel
of this poor people. They were given some relics
of the late Monsieur Bernard, well known in France;
hardly had the woman in travail suspended them to
her neck when she was delivered of a fine child.
That greatly surprised all the Savages, — insomuch

198 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

mefme Relique. Le pauure homme defia condamne'
a mort de tous les fiens, parut fain & gaillard en fort
peu de temps.

Cell la couftume des Sauuages, d'amfter fur le
foir aux prieres dans la Chappelle, & de les faire
encor dans leurs cabanes deuant que de prendre leur
fommeil; Vn ieune garcon eitant a genoux en ce
temps-la, tomba foudainement en fyncope; fes pa-
rens orient, l'appellent, le tirent tantoft d'vn cofte*
& tantoft de l'aut[r]e, ils luy iettent de l'eau froide
pour le faire reuenir a foy: ce pauure homme ne
[157] branle point, il demeure iufques a minuit, fans
donner aucun figne de vie : on va donner nouuelle
aux Peres qu'il eft mort, s'ils ne trouuent quelque
nouueau remede, on luy met ces faindtes Reliques
fur la poitrine, a peine les a-il touchees, qu'il ouure
les yeux, reuient a foy, & donne de l'epouuante a
tous les affiftans, qui ne pouuoient affez remercier
Noftre Seigneur d'vne guerifon fi foudaine.

On donna la mefme medecine a deux petits enfans
malades: elle n'eut pas vn mefme effet, mais peut-
efhre vn meilleur. Les parens ayans appelle" la nuidt
precedente vn Sorcier pour chanter & pour fouhier
ces pauures petits, fe rendirent indignes des faueurs
de ce grand Seruiteur de Dieu pour la fante de ces
petits innocens: mais leurs ames receues au Ciel
ioignant leurs prieres auec les fiennes, obtinrent la
conuerfion de leurs peres & meres qui apporterent de
douze lieue's loin ces petits corps pour eftre enterrez
auec les Chreftiens, & promirent de fuiure Iesvs-
Christ, & de iamais plus ne f e f eruir d'aucunes
fuperftitions. Le Sorcier mefme ietta fon tambour
au feu, fe fit inftruire & baptifer, & de l'heure [158]

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 199

that another, being racked with a violent fever, and
solicited by some Pagans to have recourse to their
diabolical superstitions, closed his ear to them, in
order to open it to the counsels of the Fathers, who
had him wear that same Relic. The poor man,
already condemned to death by all his people, ap-
peared sound and sprightly in a very short time.

It is the custom of the Savages to be present,
toward evening, at the prayers in the Chapel; and
to say them again, in their cabins, before taking their
sleep. A young lad, being on his knees at that time,
fell suddenly into a swoon. His parents shout, call
him, and pull him now to one side, now to the other;
they throw cold water on him, in order to bring him
back to himself. This poor fellow [157] stirs not at
all; he remains even till midnight without giving
any sign of life. A message is carried to the
Fathers that he is dead, unless they find some new
remedy. They put those sacred Relics on his
breast ; hardly has he touched them when he opens
his eyes, comes back to himself, and inspires awe in
all those present, who could not sufficiently thank
Our Lord for a cure so sudden.

They gave the same medicine to two sick little
children ; it had not the same effect, but perhaps a
better. The parents, having called, the night preced-
ing, a Sorcerer to sing and to breathe upon those
poor little ones, rendered themselves unworthy of
the favors of that great Servant of God in behalf of
the health of those little innocents. But their souls,
received in Heaven, and joining their prayers to his,
obtained the conversion of their fathers and mothers,
who brought from a distance of twelve leagues those
little bodies to be buried with the Christians, and

200 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

que i'efcry ces remarques, ils viuent tous dans la
crainte de Dieu, & dans l'obeiffance de fon Eglife.

Saindt Xauier fe feruoit aux Indes Orietales des
petits enfans, pour donner la chafle aux Idoles qu'il
faifoit mettre en pieces par ces mains innocentes.
Le Pere qui a eu la charge de la Million de Tadouf-
fac, en a fait de mefme pour trouuer les tambours &
les petits manitous, ou les demons cachez dans les
facs des Sauuages. Ces enfans ont rendu tous ces
inftrumens de fuperftition fi ridicules qu'il n'y a plus
perfonne qui s'en ofe feruir, fi ce n'eit peut eitre la
nuidt & dans la profondeur des bois. Ces petites
creatures decouurent tous les mylteres de ces charla-
tans, ils reprennent hardiment ceux qui font quel-
que adtion meffeante. Entr'autres, vne petite fille
inftruite au Seminaire des Meres Vrfulines, ne
manquoit point d'auertir le Pere des deffauts qu'elle
apperceuoit parmy fes compagnes, auec vn zele &
vne douceur enfantine toute aymable.

Vn Abnaquiois eftant tombe malade a fainct
Iofeph, fut fail! d'vne fievre chaude qui le ietta bien-
toft dans vn delire. [159] Ses difcours, & fes ref-
ponfes n'auoient aucune fuitte: mais ce qui eltonna
fes compagnons, & les autres Sauuages, fut que
iamais il ne perdit la connoiffance des chofes qui
concernoient fon falut, Q toft qu'on luy parloit du
Baptefme, fa raifon eftoit toute pleine, fi vous enta-
miez vn autre difcours, il fermoit les yeux, & ne
rendoit aucune refponfe a propos: il demanda le
Baptefme par Hgnes, & par paroles, & par de grands
tefmoignages qu'il en connoiffoit la valeur. On
l'interroge, il refpond nettement & fans broncher.
On l'examine, il fatisfait, en vn mot, on le baptife,

1646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 201

promised to follow Jesus Christ, and never
more to use any superstitions. The Sorcerer him-
self threw his drum into the fire, and became in-
structed and baptized; and at the hour [158] when I
write these remarks, they are all living in the fear
of God, and in obedience to his Church.

Saint Xavier employed, in the East Indies, little
children for hunting out the Idols, which he caused
to be shattered by those innocent hands. The
Father who has had charge of the Mission at Tadous-
sac, has done likewise in order to find the drums,
and the little manitous or demons concealed in the
pouches of the Savages. Those children have rendered
all these instruments of superstition so ridiculous that
there is no longer any one who dares to use them,
unless perhaps at night and in the depth of the
woods. These little creatures reveal all the mys-
teries of those impostors ; they boldly reprove those
who do any unseemly deed. Among others, a little
girl, instructed at the Seminary of the Ursuline
Mothers, did not fail to notify the Father of the
failings that she perceived among her companions,
with a zeal and childish sweetness wholly lovable.

An Abnaquiois, having fallen sick at saint
Joseph, was seized with a burning fever, which soon
threw him into a delirium. [159] His words and his
answers had no connection ; but what astonished his
companions and the other Savages was, that he
never lost the knowledge of the things which con-
cerned his salvation. As soon as one spoke to him
of Baptism, his reason was quite complete; if you
broached another topic, he closed his eyes, and ren-
dered no fitting answer. He requested Baptism by
signs and by words, and by clear indications that he

202 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.29

il meurt, & nous laiffant vne croyance que I e s v s -
Christ luy auoit conferue" la raifon quafi miracu-
leufement pour le faire entrer dans la terre de
promiffion, apres auoir efte" lau6 dans la mer rouge
de fon fang. II plaide maintenant dans les Cieux la
caufe de fon peuple qui femble fe vou[loir] faire
inflruire tout de bon.

Vne efcoiiade de Hurons eftans defcendus a faindt
Iofeph, les Chreftiens eftans dans vne grande ne-
cefflte- de viures, fe demandoient l'vn l'autre, pour-
rons-nous bien donner a manger a tous ces gens-la?
[160] comme ils difoiet cela, en voila vne partie qui
fortans de leurs petits batteaux s'en vont droit a la
Chappelle, fe mettent a genoux, & font leurs prieres.
Vn Algonquin qui eftoit alle" faliier le faindt Sacre-
ment, les ayant apperceus, vient donner aduis a fon
Capitaine que ces Hurons prioient Dieu. Eft-il vray,
fit-il, fus, fus, il ne faut plus confulter fi on leur don-
nera dequoy difner, ils font nos parens, puis qu'ils
croyent auffi bien que nous, & qu'ils honorent la
priere. La deffus ils fe carefferent a la mode de la
charite, par des adtions pluftoft que par des paroles.

Dieu nous epouuante quelquesfois par des ombres,
pour nous faire exercer de veritables adtions. Vne
famille Chreftienne chaffoit au Caflor, le bon-heur
qu'elle auoit dans la chaffe, fut trauerfe par vne
terreur qui fit du mal & du bien. Voicy comme l'hi-
floire nous fut racontee par vne femme fort honnefte,
& fort vertueufe. Ayant pris noftre refedtion fur le
foir, & remercie Dieu felon noftre couftume: mon
mari, difoit-elle, fortant de noftre petite maifon d'6-
corce, oiiyt vn bruit, comme d'vne perfonne qui nous
ayant reconnu, trauerfoit la riuiere [161] fur laquelle

1646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 203

knew its value. He is interrogated; he answers
distinctly, and without tripping. He is examined,
and gives satisfaction ; in a word, he is baptized. He
dies, leaving us a belief that Jesus Christ had
preserved his reason almost miraculously, in order
to have him enter the land of promise after having
been washed in the red sea of his blood. He now
pleads in the Heavens the cause of his people, who
seem willing to become instructed in good earnest.

A squad of Hurons having come down to saint
Joseph, the Christians, being in great need of provi-
sions, asked one another, " Shall we indeed be able
to feed all those people?" [160] While they were
saying that, lo, part of these guests, leaving their
little boats, go straight to the Chapel, kneel down,
and say their prayers. An Algonquin who had gone
to salute the blessed Sacrament, having perceived
them, comes to give notice to his Captain that those
Hurons were praying to God. "Is it true?" said
he; "well, well, we must no longer deliberate
whether they shall be given something for dinner;
they are our kinsfolk, since they believe as well as
we, and honor prayer." Thereupon they caressed
one another in the manner of charity, by actions
rather than by words.

God sometimes frightens us by shadows, in order
to make us practice genuine actions. A Christian
family was hunting the Beaver; the good fortune
which it met in the chase was crossed by a terror
which caused evil and good. The story was thus
related to us by a woman, very honest and very
virtuous. " Having taken our meal toward evening,
and thanked God, according to our custom, my hus-
band," she said, " going out of our little bark house,

204 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.29

nous eftions, il demande fi tous les chiens eftoient
dans la cabane, fe doutant qu'ils pourroient bien
auoir caufe" ce bruit : les ayant veu proche de moy,
ie luy refpondis que pas vn n'eftoit dehors. II prefte
l'oreille, il ecoute comme ce bruit continuoit. Nous
fommes decouuerts, il s'6crie: Sauuez vous & vos
enfans, l'ennemy nous enuironne, fuyez a la faueur
de la nuidt, nous fouitiendrons le choc, & nous mour-
rons icy, pour vous donner le loifir d'euader. I'em-
braffe auffi-toft l'vn de mes enfans, dit cette femme,
ie donne l'autre a porter a vne miene parente qui
m'accompagnoit, mon mary court aux armes, le ieune
homme qui chaffoit auec luy, fe faifit en mefme
temps de fon epee & de fon arquebufe, & pendant
qu'ils fe mettent en pofture de combattre pour
arrefter l'ennemy, s'il approchoit, nous fuyons toutes
£plor6es nous dechirans les pieds & les jambes nues
dans les halliers, heurtans les pierres & les bois
abbatus que nous rencontrions. Les tenebres aug-
mentoiet noftre frayeur, nous auons chemine & couru
toute la nuidt & tout le iour: enfin n'en pouuans
plus, nous nous fommes repofees fur le [162] bord du
grand fleuue, & par bonne auanture, voyans voguer
vn canot de nos gens nous l'auons appelle. II nous
a prifes, & apportees icy, ou il eft vray que nous
fommes en affeurance : mais non pas fans douleur.
Mon pauure mari, & fon parent font pris, & peut-
eftre a demy brulez, & a demy roftis; & la deffus
cette pauure creature, & tous fes enfans, & fes plus
proches parentes, iettoient des cris & des larmes qui
auroient amolly vn cceur de bronze. Le Pere qui
eftoit a faindt Iofeph, entendant ces cris, y court
auffi-toft. Ce trifle fpeclacle l'emeut: quoy done,

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 205

heard a noise, as of a person who, having recognized
lis, was crossing the river [161] at which we were.
He asked if all the dogs were in the cabin, suspect-
ing that they had probably caused this noise : hav-
ing seen them near me, I answered him that not one
was outside. He listens; he hears this noise con-
tinuing. ' We are discovered, ' he exclaims ; ' save
yourselves and your children ; the enemy surrounds
us. Flee by the favor of the night ; we will sustain
the shock, and we will die here, in order to give you
leisure to escape.' I straightway embrace one of
my children," said this woman; " I give the other
to be carried by a kinswoman of mine who accom-
panied me. My husband runs to arms, and the
young man who was hunting with him seizes at the
same time his javelin and his arquebus ; and while
they put themselves in position to fight, in order to
stop the enemy if he approached, we flee all in
tears, — tearing our feet and bare legs in the thick-
ets, knocking against the stones and the fallen trees
that we encountered. The darkness increased our
fright; we journeyed and ran, all night and all day.
Finally, having no more strength, we rested our-
selves on the [162] bank of the great river; and, by
good fortune seeing a canoe of our people journey-
ing, we called it. It took us and brought us here,
where it is true that we are in safety, but not with-
out pain. My poor husband and his kinsman are
taken, and perhaps half burned and half roasted ; "
and thereupon that poor creature and all her chil-
dren, and her nearest kinswomen, gave way to cries
and to tears that would have softened a heart of
bronze. The Father who was at saint Joseph, hear-
ing those cries, runs thither immediately; this sad

206

LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

fit-il, ces douleurs & ces cris refufciteront-ils des
hommes morts? il faut prier pour eux, & non pas
s'affliger fans mefure: helas! mon Pere, refpondit-
elle, ce qui me trouble & ce qui m'affiige iufques au
fond du coeur: c'eft qu'ils font morts fans fe Con-
feffer, le moyen de ne pas pleurer vne telle mort?
ne crains point ma fille, luy dit le Pere, ie connois
la vertu de ton mari, non feulement il eft d'vne
humeur paifible, & douce, comme tu f9ay: mais ie
t'affeure qu'il a vne Foy tres-viue, vne tres-grande
crainte du peche, & vn tres-ardent amour de fon
Dieu, [163] l'as-tu iamais veu en cholere, l'as-tu veu
manquer vne feule fois de faire fes prieres depuis
qu'il eft Chreftien? helas! nenny, refpondit-elle,
nenny ; tous les matins, & tous les foirs, & a chaque
fois que nous prenios nos repas, nous faifions enfem-
ble nos prieres, nous viuions comme des enfans. II
faut confeffer que cet homme a vn don de prieres
qu'il n'entend pas luy-mefme, & que cette famille
eft l'vne des plus fauorifees du Ciel, de toutes celles
qui fe font donnees a Iesvs-Christ.

Ceffons de pleurer, adioufta le Pere, prions Dieu
qui \sc. qu'il] les fortifie, s'ils font encore viuans, &
qu'il les loge en fon Paradis, s'ils font morts; mes
larmes ny mes trauaux, n'ont point empefche" mes
prieres, repart-elle, ie t'affeure mon Pere que dans
noftre fuitte, mon cceur eftoit toujours auec Dieu;
ie ne penfois pas tant a mes peines que ie penfois a
Dieu. Ie luy difois du fond de mon ame, loge les
auec toy, fortifie les, aye pitie d'eux, ecoute leurs
prieres, eleue les au Ciel, & maintenant dans tous
les cris que tu as entendus, & dans mes plus fortes
angoiffes, Dieu a toufiours efte dedans mon cceur, ie

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 207

sight disturbs him. " What then?" said he, " will
these griefs and these cries revive dead men ? You
must pray for them, and not afflict yourselves with-
out measure." " Alas! my Father," she answered,
" what troubles and afflicts me, even to the depth of
the heart, is that they have died without Confessing;
how can one not mourn such a death?" " Fear not,
my daughter," replies the Father; " I know the vir-
tue of thy husband ; not only is he of a peaceful and
gentle temper, as thou knowest, but I assure thee
that he has a very lively Faith, a very great dread
of sin, and a very ardent love for his God. [163]
Hast thou ever seen him in anger? hast thou seen
him omit, a single time, to say his prayers since he
is a Christian?" "Alas! nay," she answered,
"nay; every morning and evening, and each time
that we took our meals, we said our prayers together :
we lived like children." It must be acknowledged
that this man has a gift for prayers, which he him-
self does not understand ; and that this family is one
of the most favored by Heaven, of all those which
have given themselves to Jesus Christ.

" Let us cease to weep," added the Father; " let us
ask God to strengthen them, if they are still living,
and to lodge them in his Paradise if they are dead."
" My tears or my toils have not prevented my
prayers," she answers; " I assure you, my Father,
that in our flight my heart was always with God, —
I thought not so much of my pains as I thought of
God. I would say to him from the depth of my
soul, 'Lodge them with thyself; strengthen them;
have pity on them, listen to their prayers, and lift
them up to Heaven.' And now, in all the cries that
you have heard, and in my deepest anguish, God has

208 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

luy dis en pleurant: tu es le maiftre, fais ce [164]
que tu voudras, fauue-les, voila tout ce que ie te
demande, il n'importe que ie fouffre, ie t'ay fafch6:
mais tu es bon : aye pitie de moy, ie ne puis empef-
cher mes larmes, mon mal eft trop recent : mais ie
ne voudrois pour rien du monde fafcher Dieu. Prie
pour eux mon Pere afin qu'ils foient bien-toft au
Ciel.

Ces fentimens donnerent de l'eftonnement au Pere:
comme ces ames font toutes ieunes en la Foy, il
craignoit quelque murmure contre le Ciel, ou quel-
que rage contre leurs ennemis, veu mefme que le
diable s'efforce de perfuader a ces peuples que noftre
creance n'apporte que des mal-heurs a ceux qui quit-
tent leurs anciennes facons de faire pour la receuoir.
Adjouftez a cela qu'vne femme qui eft chargee de
quatre petits enfans, & qui n'a pour toute richefle,
que les bras & les jambes de fon mari, fe trouue bien
defolee dans vn tel rencontre: mais la Foy eft vn
grand threfor, elle a de puiffants effets dans Tame
de ces bons Neophytes.

Au refte fi toft qu'elle eut raconte" fon auanture,
l'vn des Capitaines de fainct, Iofeph, arma bien vifte
vne efcoiiade de fes gens qu'il conduifrt en la Chap-
pelle, [165] oil ils firent cette petite priere. Iesvs
prends de bonnes penfees pour nous, tu fcais bien que
nous ne voulons point de mal a nos ennemis, donne
leur de l'efprit afin qu'ils viuent en repos. Nous
t'auons prie pour eux : mais ils ne te veulent pas
6couter. Fortifie nous, & nous ayde a leur coupper les
jambes, afin qu'ils ne viennent plus nous chercher a
mort. Nous croyons en toy, regarde nous, com-
mande a tes Anges de nous accompagner afin que

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 209

always been within my heart. I say to him, weep-
ing: ' Thou art the master, — do that [164] which
thou wilt. Save them ; that is all that I ask thee.
It matters not that I suffer, — I have offended thee ;
but thou art good; have pity on me.' I cannot pre-
vent my tears, — my hurt is too recent; but I would
not for anything in the world offend God. Pray for
them, my Father, so that they may soon be in
Heaven."

These feelings gave astonishment to the Father;
as these souls are quite young in the Faith, he feared
some murmur against Heaven, or some rage against
their enemies, — seeing, moreover, that the devil
strives to persuade these peoples that our belief
brings only misfortunes to those who give up their
former customs in order to receive it. Add to this,
that a woman who is burdened with four little chil-
dren, and who has for total riches only the arms and
the legs of her husband, finds herself very desolate
in such an emergency. But the Faith is a great
treasure ; it has powerful effects in the souls of these
good Neophytes.

In fine, as soon as she had related her adventure,
one of the Captains of saint Joseph very quickly
armed a squad of his people, whom he led into the
Chapel, [165] where they made this brief prayer:
"Jesus, think favorably of us. Thou knowest
well that we wish no ill to our enemies ; give them
sense, to the end that they may live in peace. We
have prayed to thee for them ; but they will not
listen to thee. Strengthen us, and help us to cut
their legs, so that they may come no more to seek
us to death. We believe in thee; consider us; com-
mand thine Angels to accompany us, to the end that

210 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

nous ne te fafchions point. Ces paroles dites, & quel-
ques autres pleines de ferueur, ils courent a leurs
canots pour s'embarquer, & pour donner la chaffe a
leurs ennerais. A peine approchoient ils des riues du
grand fleuue, qu'ils apperceurent deux canots, l'vn
defquels entendant le bruit qu'on faifoit, s'ecria,
arreftez-vous, nous fommes viuans. Tout le monde
accourut au lieu de s'arrefter: ces deux trefpaflez
fans mourir, ou ces prifonniers fans ennemis, diset
qu'vn loup ceruier par fon hurlement, & par fes
allies & venues a l'entour de leurs cabanes, les a
trompez. A ces paroles la guerre fut termin6e, cha-
qu'vn fe mit a rire, on reporta les armes & le bagage,
dans les cabanes. La defolation [166] de ces bonnes
gens fe changea en ioye, & en adtion de graces qu'ils
rendirent a Noftre Seigneur. Ils croyoient que ces
ennemis fuffent non des Annierronnons ou des Iro-
quois auec lef quels la paix continue : mais des Soko-
quiois qui tuerent l'an paffe quafi a mefme temps
deux ou trois des meilleurs Chreftiens de faindt
Iofeph : comme il a efte" remarque es chapitres prece-
dens : mais on nous dit que ces peuples ne font pas
pour fouftenir la guerre contre nos Sauuages, & qu'ils
fe tiendront en repos.

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 211

we may not offend thee." These words being said,
and some others full of fervor, they run to their
canoes in order to embark, and to give chase to their
enemies. Hardly were they approaching the banks
of the great river, when they perceived two canoes,
one of which, hearing the noise that was going on,
cried: " Stop, we are alive." Every one ran thither,
instead of stopping; those two men, deceased with-
out dying, or those prisoners without enemies, said
that a lynx, by its howling, and by its goings and
comings about their cabins, deceived them. At
these words, the war was ended ; each one began to
laugh, and they carried back their arms and baggage
into the cabins. The desolation [166] of these good
people was changed into joy, and into thanksgiving,
which they rendered to Our Lord. They believed
that those enemies were not Annierronnons or Iro-
quois, with whom the peace continues, but Sokoqui-
ois, who killed last year, almost at the same season,
two or three of the best Christians of saint Joseph,
as it has been remarked in the preceding chapters.
We are, however, told that those tribes are not in
favor of maintaining the war against our Savages,
and that they will remain quiet.

212 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.29

CHAPITRE X.

DE QUELQUES PARTICULARITEZ DU PAYS, & AUTRES

CHOSES QUI N'ONT PU ESTRE RAPPORTEES

SOUS LES CHAPITRES PRECEDENS.

VN Sauuage d'vne nation fort eloignee de Kebec,
nous a dit que quad quelque perfonne de
confideration eft morte en fon pais, ceux qui
ont le coufteau & la hache mieux en main , taillent [167]
fon portrait, comme ils peuuent & le plantent fur la
foffe du trefpaffe, oignant & graiffant c6t homme de
bois, comme s'il eftoit viuant. Ils appellent cette
figure Tipaiatik, comme qui diroit le bois ou le portrait
d'vn trefpaffe.

Ils ont encore vne autre couftume remarquable en
ce pays la. Vn homme eftant mort, li fon pere ou
fon frere, ou quelqu'vn de fes proches parens, ou de
fes amis, eft alle en quelque voyage bien eloigne, ils
luy font fcauoir la mort de fon parent ou de fon amy,
en cette forte : ils vont pendre la chof e fignifiee par
le nom du def undt fur le chemin par ou il doit paffer :
par exemple, s'il fe nomme Pire, c'eft a dire la per-
drix, ils pendent la peau d'vne perdrix ; s'il fe nomme
Siktfas, c'eft a dire de l'6corce de bouleau, ils en
attachent vn morceau a quelque branche d'arbre,
pour fignifier que celuy qui portoit ce nom, n'eft plus
au nombre des viuans. Voicy qui femble bien
eftrange, fi le parent a reconnu le fignal, il entrera
dans fa cabane fans iamais parler du defundt ny

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 213

CHAPTER X.

OF SOME PECULIARITIES OF THE COUNTRY, AND OTHER

THINGS WHICH COULD NOT BE RELATED

UNDER THE PRECEDING CHAPTERS.

A SAVAGE of a nation very distant from Kebec
has told us that, when any person of emi-
nence has died in his country, those who can
best use the knife and hatchet cut out [167] his like-
ness, as well as they can, and fix it upon the grave
of the deceased, — • anointing and greasing this man
of wood as if he were alive. They call this figure
Tipaiatik, — as if they said, " the head or portrait of
one deceased."

They have still another remarkable custom in that
country. A man having died, if his father, or
brother, or any one of his near kinsmen or his friends
has gone on some very distant journey, they inform
him of the death of his kinsman or of his friend in
this wise : they go and suspend the thing signified
by the name of the deceased along the way by which
this man is to pass. For instance, if he is named
Pire, — that is to say, "the partridge," — they sus-
pend the skin of a partridge; if he is named Sikwas, —
that is to say, " birch-bark," — they fasten a piece of
it to some branch of a tree, in order to indicate that
he who bore that name is no longer numbered among
the living. Here is a usage that seems very strange :
if the kinsman has recognized the signal, he will
enter into his cabin without ever speaking of the

214 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.29

demander comme il eft mort, fes parens n'en feront
aucune mention : car on ne parle plus des morts, de
peur d'attrifter [168] les viuans, fi toutesfois on croit
qu'il n'ait pas veu le lignal, on luy dira vn tel eft
mort, & voila tout.

Si vn Sauuage eft tombe en quelque defaftre, s'il a
perdu quelqu'vn de fes proches, il laiffe croiftre fes
cheueux fur fon front, pour marque de fon deuil &
de fon ennuy : Que fi vous le voulez deliurer de cette
peine, faites luy vn prefent auec ces paroles ou d'au-
tres femblables: voila des cifeaux pour coupper les
cheueux qui pendent fur ton front, s'il touche voftre
prefent, il couppe fes cheueux, & quitte fon ennuy.

On a defia dit dans les Relations precedentes, que
fi quelque homme de confideration ou fort ayme de
fes parens eft mort, on le fait refufciter en cette
forte : on offre a quelque autre le nom du defundt
auec vn beau prefent, s'il l'accepte il quitte fon an-
cien nom, & en prend vn nouueau, & s'il n'eft pas
marie il efpoufe la vefue, prenant vn foin de fes
enfans, comme s'ils eftoient les Hens propres: que fi
la vefue ne l'aggree pas, il ne laiffe pas de fe porter
pour pere de fes enfans. II n'y a pas long-temps
que cette couftume nous donna vne fauffe alarme &
vn faux fcandale. [169] Le mary d'vne femme affez
ieune eftant mort, on fit porter fon nom a vn ieune
homme qui depuis peu auoit perdu fa femme : celuy-
cy prend fon bagage & fe va loger en la cabane de
la vefue, & fe place aupres d'elle & de fes enfans:
comme ils eftoient tous deux Chreftiens, cela nous
eftonna : car on difoit qu'ils eftoient mariez enfemble.
On appelle cette ieune femme, on luy demande fi elle
n'eft pas Chreftienne, & fi elle n'a point quitte- la

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 215

dead, or asking how he has died, and his relatives
will make no mention of it, — for they speak no more
of the dead, for fear of saddening [168] the living.
If, however, it is believed that he has not seen the
signal, they will tell him that such a one is dead ; and
that is all.

If a Savage has fallen into any disaster, or if he
has lost one of his near kinsmen, he lets his hair
grow over his forehead, in token of his mourning
and sorrow. But if you wish to deliver him from
that distress, make him a present, with these words,
or others similar : ' ' There are some scissors to cut
the hair which hangs over your forehead ; " if he
receive your present, he cuts his hair and forsakes
his sadness.

It has already been told, in the preceding Rela-
tions, that if any man of consideration, or one much
loved by his kinsfolk, have died, he is made to revive
in this manner : they offer to some one else the name
of the deceased, together with a valuable present. If
he accept it, he gives up his former name, and takes
the new one ; and, if he be not married, he espouses
the widow, taking care of her children as if they
were his own ; but, if the widow accept him not, he
nevertheless acts as father to her children. Not long
ago, this custom gave us a false alarm, and a false
scandal. [169] The husband of a quite young wife
having died, his name was transferred to a young
man who had recently lost his wife ; this one takes
his baggage and goes to lodge in the widow's cabin,
and places himself beside her and her children. As
they were both Christians, that astonished us ; for it
was said that they were married together. That
young woman is called ; she is asked if she is not a

216 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

Foy: Ie fuis Chreftienne, refpond-elle, & pour rien
du monde ie ne voudrois quitter la Foy. Eftes-vous
remariee? non; Vn tel ieune home, n'eft-il pas auec
vous dans voftre cabane ? ouy . Le voulez-vous efpou-
fer? non. D'ou vient done que vous le logez auec
vous? Ie ne l'ay point appelle, demandez a ceux qui
luy ont donne" le nom de mon mary, pourquoy ils me
l'ont enuoye. Le Pere qui faifoit ces interrogations
ne dift que deux mots a fa predication de cette
couftume, en l'improuuant comme trop dangereufe:
auffi-toft deux Capitaines le vinrent trouuer, 1'afTeu-
rant qu'ils faifoient cela pour fecourir la vefue & fes
enfans: que s'il y auoit quelque mal, qu'ils banni-
roient cette [170] fa9on de faire comme ils ont fait
toutes les autres qu'on a iuge blafmables. On leur
dit que s'il fe vouloient marier on les efpouferoit,
autrement qu'ils fe deuoient feparer; ce qui n'em-
pefcheroit pas que ce ieune homme ne fit du bien a
ces pauures orphelins: cela fut aufli-tofl execute.

On donne en France vne fomme d'argent ou quel-
que autre chofe pour marier vne fille. Icy tout au
contraire vn homme voulant efpoufer vne fille fait des
prefens a fes parens. Que fi la fille, fe marie deuant
que les prefens foient faits, & que le mari tarde a
les faire, les parens retirent leur fille, & le mari de-
meure tout feul, comme s'il n'auoit point efte marie.
De plus fi vn Sauuage efpoufe vne fille d'vne autre
nation ou d'vne autre bourgade que la fienne, s'il ne
la renuoye quand elle eft malade pour mourir aupres
de fes parens, il doit enuoyer des prefens pour les
confoler fur fa mort.

On a bien parle les annees precedentes de quel-
ques mouches qui brillent la nuit pendant l'Efte:

1646) RELA TION OF 1645-46 217

Christian, and if she has not forsaken the Faith.
" I am a Christian," she answers; " and for nothing
in the world would I forsake the Faith." " Are you
married again?" "No." "Such a young man, —
is he not with you in your cabin?" " Yes." " Do
you wish to espouse him?" "No." "Whence
comes it then that you lodge him with you?" " I
have not called him, — ask those who have given him
my husband's name, why they have sent him to me."
The Father who put these questions, said only a few
words at his preaching, about this custom, reproving
it as too dangerous. Immediately two Captains came
to find him, assuring him that they were doing that
in order to help the widow and her children ; that, if
there were any wrong in it, they would abolish this
[170] way of doing, as they have done with all the
others that have been judged blameworthy. They
are told that, if these persons wished to marry, we
would espouse them ; otherwise, that they ought to
separate, — which would not hinder that young man
from doing good to those poor orphans. That was
quickly accomplished.

They give in France a sum of money, or some-
thing else of value, in order to have a young girl
marry. Here, on the contrary, a man wishing to
espouse a girl makes presents to her parents. But,
if the girl marry before the presents are given, and
the husband be slow to make them, the parents take
away their daughter, and the husband remains all
alone, as if he had not been married. Moreover, if
a Savage espouse a girl of another nation or of an-
other village than his own, he must — unless he send
her back when she is sick, in order to die near her par-
ents— send presents to console them upon her death.

218 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

comme des eftoiles cm de petits flambeaux : fi vous
en prenez vne par fa petite aile, & fi vous la paffez
doucement [171] fur vn liure, vous lirez dans le fond
de la nuit, comme au milieu du iour. II eft vray que
ce flambeau fe cache & paroift felon le mouuement
de ce petit animal. Outre cefte efpece de mouches,
il y en a d'autres qui au Printemps, paroiffent en
quelques endroits en fi grande quantite qu'on diroit
en verite qu'il neiges des mouches, tant l'air en eft
remply : il eft vray qu'elles font innocentes, que fi
elles picquoient, comme les coufms qu'on nomme icy
des maringoins, ce feroit vn des fleaux d'Egypte.
Homme du monde n'oferoit porter le vifage ny les
mains a decouuert pendant quelque peu de temps
que cette pluye, & ces tenebres durent: l'air en ce
temps-la n'a nonplus de iour que lors qu'il tombe vne
neige fort drue, & fort efpaiffe. Ie n'ay point veu a
Kebec de ces armees : mais vn petit plus haut dans
quelques Iiles oil on trouue de quatre fortes de cra-
paux. II y en a de noirs, & de iaunes fort vilains,
il y en a de blancs affez gros, & d'autres affez petits
qui branchent comme les oyf eaux ; ils grimpent fur
les arbres fautans de branche en branche, leurs pates
font propres a s'aggraffer. Ils ont vn cry refonnant
qui [172] approche bien plus du chant d'vn oyfeau,
que du croacement des grenoiiilles. En effet le pre-
mier qu'o entedit, fut pris pour vn oyfeau; mais
l'ceil nous apprit que c'eftoit vn crapaux. Ie ne
fcay fi on a remarque" qu'il y a icy des grenoiiilles
que quelques perfonnes ont prifes pour des taureaux,
les entendant croacer : ce bruit eft prodigieux pour
la petiteffe de leur corps. Elles font mediocres dans

1646] RELATION OF 164s -46 219

There has surely been mention, in the preceding
years, of some flies which shine at night during the
Summer, like stars or little torches; if you take one
by its little wing, and if you move it slowly [171]
over a book, you will read in the depth of the night
as in the middle of the day. It is true that this torch
conceals itself and appears according to the motion
of this little animal. Besides this kind of flies, there
are others which in Spring appear in some places in
so great number that one might in truth say that it
snows flies, to such a degree is the air filled with
them. It is true that they are harmless; but, if they
stung, — like the gnats which are here named mos-
quitoes,— it would be one of the plagues of Egypt;
no man in the world would dare to leave his face or
his hands exposed during some little time that this
rain and this darkness prevail ; the air at that time
has no more light than when a very compact and
heavy fall of snow occurs. I have not seen any of
these armies at Kebec; but have seen them a little
above, in some Islands where one finds four sorts of
toads. There are black ones, and yellow ones, very
ugly; there are some white ones, quite large, and
others rather small, which perch like the birds, —
these climb on the trees, jumping from branch to
branch ; their feet are adapted to hooking fast. They
make a resounding cry which [172] approaches much
more to the song of a bird than to the croaking of
the frogs. Indeed, the first one that we heard we
mistook for a bird; but the eye taught us that it
was a toad. I know not whether it has been remarked
that there are frogs here which some persons have
mistaken for bulls, on hearing them croak ; this noise
is prodigious for the littleness of their body. They

220 LES RELATIONS DES JE~SUITES [Vol.29

leur genre, on en voit d'autres incomparablement
plus groffes qui ne font pas tant de bruit.

II fe trouue icy vne efpece de cerfs differens des
communs de France. Nos Francois les appellent des
vaches fauuages: ce font veritablement des cerfs:
leurs branches n'ont point de rapport aux comes de
nos bceufs, & leurs corps font bien diffemblables
& bien plus haut montez: ces animaux vont en
trouppes : mais pour f e f oulager pendant l'hyuer, ils
fe fuiuent les vns apres les autres, les premiers frayas
le chemin a ceux qui viennent apres. Et quand ce-
luy qui ropt & qui ouure la neige, eft las, il fe met
le dernier dans la route battue. Les cerfs en France
font le mefme en paffant quelque riuiere quand ils fe
trouuent en troupe, a ce qu'on dit, ceux-cy [173] ne
s'arreftent guiere en vn endroit marchans toufiours
dans ces grandes forefts. Les Elans font le contraire,
quoy qu'ils marchent enfemble, ils ne gardent point
d'ordre brouttans ca & la, fans s' eloigner beaucoup
d'vn mefme gifte. C'eft ce qui faifoit dire il y a
quelques iours a vn Sauuage qui fe vouloit retirer,
que les Elans eftoient des Francois, & cette autre
forte de cerfs errans des Algonquins; pource que
ceux cy vont chercher leur vie deca dela dedans ces
grands bois, & les Francois tiennent ferme cultiuans
la terre au lieu ou ils font leur demeure. Outre ces
cerfs il y en a de deux autres efpeces ; l'vne qui eft
femblable ou qui a beaucoup de rapport a nos cerfs
de France. L'autre, qu'on croit eftre cet Onager ou
cet afne fauuage de l'Efcriture. Ce feroit vfer de
redites que d'en vouloir parler en cet endroit. Ces
bonnes gens voyent maintenant en leur pays vne
autre efpece d'animaux, dont ils n'auoient iamais

1646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 221

are not large, of their kind ; one sees others incom-
parably bigger, which do not make so much noise.

There is found here a species of deer, different
from the common ones of France. Our French call
them " wild cows," but they are really deer; their
branching horns have no likeness to the horns of our
oxen, and their bodies are very dissimilar, and of
much greater height. These animals go in troops ;
but, to assist one another during the winter, they
follow one after another, the first ones breaking the
way for those that come after; and, when the one
which breaks and opens up the snow is tired, it
places itself last in the beaten path. The deer in
France do the same in crossing a river, when they
happen to be in a herd. According to report, these
animals [173] hardly stop in one place, continually
traveling within these great forests. The Elks do the
contrary; though they walk together, they observe
no order, browsing here and there, without straying
far from the same shelter. This is what prompted,
some days ago, a Savage who wished to become
sedentary, to say that the Elks were French, and that
other sort of roving deer, Algonquins: because the
latter go to seek their living hither and thither with-
in these great forests, and the French are stationary,
tilling the earth at the place where they make their
abode. Besides these deer, there are two other
species, — one of which is similar, or which has much
likeness, to our deer of France; the other of which is
believed to be the Onager or wild ass of the Scrip-
ture. It would be using repetitions, to attempt to
speak of them in this place. These good people now
see in their country another kind of animals, of
which they had never had knowledge; these are

222 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

eu connoiffance. Ce sot de petits taureaux, & de pe-
tites genifTes qu'on y a fait porter auec de grands tra-
uaux : leur eftonnement fera bien plus grand, quand
ils verront ces animaux labourer la terre, & traifner
de gros [174] fardeaux fur des neiges hautes de trois
& de quatre pieds, fans enfoncer.

Dans ce Chapitre ie donneray place a la peur & a
la force de deux femmes. Le troifi6me de Iuillet
deux femmes toutes moiiillees depuis les pieds
iufques a la tefte, entreret dans 1' habitation de
Montreal ; elles eftoient abbatues & toutes eplorees, on
leur demande le fujet de leur triftefle ; comme nous
defcendions 9a bas moy & ma fille, dit la plus aagee,
nous auons apperceu des hommes que nous croyons
eftre de nos ennemis; la peur nous faififlant nous
auons abandonne noftre petit bateau d'ecorce & tout
noftre bagage, marchans & courans huidt iours en-
tiers dans ces grands bois, de peur de tomber entre
leurs mains. Qu'auez-vous mange depuis ce temps-
la, leur dit-on ? Rien du tout que des f ruidts f au-
uages que nous rencontrions par fois, & encore ne
les cueillions nous qu'en courant. Mais comment
auez vous pu aborder cette Ifle fans canot? nous
auons ramaile des bois que nous auons lie par enfem-
ble auec des ecorces de bois blanc, nous nous fommes
mif es fur ces bois ramans auec des baftons & nous con-
fians a la mercy des eaux, aymans [175] mieux eftre
noy6es que de tomber entre les mains de perfonnes 11
cruelles, comme font nos ennemis. Ces bois venant
a fe rompre, nous fommes tombees dans le courant,
& apres nous eftre bien debatues, nous auos ratrappe"
nos bois qui nous ont conduit iufqu'au bord de voftre
Ifle. Remarquez, s'il vous plaift, qu'elles firent plus

1646J RELATION OF 1645-46 223

little bulls and heifers, which have been brought
hither with great labors. Their astonishment will
be much greater when they shall see these animals
working the earth, and drawing huge [174] burdens
over snows three and four feet deep, without sink-
ing in.

In this Chapter I will give space to the fear and
the strength of two women. On the third of July,
two women, all wet from the feet even to the head,
entered the settlement of Montreal ; they were de-
jected and all in tears. They are asked the reason
of their sadness. ' ' As we were coming down hither,
my daughter and I," said the elder, " we perceived
some men whom we believed to be of our enemies ;
fear seizing us, we abandoned our little bark boat
and all our baggage, walking and running eight
entire days in these great woods, for fear of falling
into their hands." " What have you eaten since that
time?" they are asked. "Nothing at all, but wild
fruits that we came across at times ; and even then
we gathered them only while running." " But how
have you been able to land on this Island without a
canoe? " " We picked up pieces of wood, which we
bound together with bark of white-wood ; we placed
ourselves on this raft, paddling with sticks, and
trusting to the mercy of the waters, — choosing [175]
rather to be drowned than to fall into the hands of
persons so cruel as are our enemies. Those pieces
of wood beginning to break apart, we fell into the
current; but, after having struggled hard, we over-
took our raft, which brought us even to the shore
of your Island." Notice, if you please, that they
made more than two leagues on those floating
sticks, awaiting only the hour when they should be

224 LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.29

de deux lieues fur ces bartons flottans, n' attendant
que l'heure d'eftre englouties dans la profondeur
d'vn fleuue qui paroift corame vne mer au deffus de
cette Ifle. Apres tout, il ne fallut point de faign6e
pour les guerir de la peur: on leur donna a manger,
elles firent feicher leurs robes, & les voila hors de
leurs ennuys. La perte de leur canot, de leurs
marchandifes, de leurs viures, de tout leur bagage,
ne les affligea pas beaucoup. Ce qui ne tient guere,
s'arrache aifement: comme les biens ne font pas pro-
fondement logez dans le coeur des Sauuages, la perte
en eft moins amere, ils fe rient dans les naufrages,
& fe mocquent du feu qui confomme leurs biens.

I'ay defia pretendu vne excufe fur la bigarure de
ce Chapitre, voicy vne fimplicite innocente. Vn Atti-
camegue qui n'auoit [176] point frequente les Fran-
cois, voyant qu'vn Pere regardant vn papier pronon-
coit des prieres, ce Sauuage fut rauy, il s'imagine
qu'il entendroit bien ce papier, il le demande: tu n'y
connoiftras rien, luy dit le Pere, comment fit-il, il
parle ma langue? Le Pere luy donne, il le regarde,
il le tourne & retourne de tous coftez puis fe mettant
a rire, il s'efcrie en fon Montagnais, Tap de Nama
Nitirinifin, Nama NinifitaSabaten, en verite" ie n'ay
point d'efprit, ie n'entend point par les yeux. C'eft
vn beau mot qu'ils ont donne pour fignifier qu'on
fcait lire, NinifitaSabaten: c'eft proprement a dire,
i'entends par les yeux. Ce mot eft compofe de Nini-
fitb'ten, i'entends, & de Nittabaten, ie voy, de ces deux
mots ils en compofent vn qui fignifie i'entends en
voyant: c'eft a dire ie lis bien, ie connoy ce que ie
voy. Leurs compofitions font admirables, & ie puis
dire que quand il n'y auroit point d' autre argument

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 22b

swallowed up in the depth of a flood which appears
like a sea above this Island. After all, it required
no bleeding to cure them of their fright ; they were
given something to eat, they dried their clothing, and
at once they were free from care. The loss of their
canoe, their wares, their provisions, and all their
baggage, afflicted them not much. What is lightly
attached is easily torn away ; as goods are not deeply
lodged in the hearts of the Savages, the loss of them
is less bitter ; they make merry in shipwrecks, and
mock at the fire which consumes their possessions.

I have already given an excuse for the medley of
this Chapter, — here follows an instance of innocent
simplicity. An Atticamegue who had not [176]
visited the French, seeing that a Father, looking at
a paper, uttered some prayers, — this Savage was
charmed ; he imagines that he would well understand
that paper, and asks for it. " Thou wouldst under-
stand nothing upon it," the Father answers him.
"How so?" he said, "it speaks my language."
The Father gives it to him ; he looks at it, and turns
and turns it again on all sides; then, beginning to
laugh, he exclaims in his Montagnais, Tap de Nama
Nitirinisin, Nama Ninisitazvabaten, — " In truth, I have
no sense; I do not hear with the eyes." It is an
excellent word that they have employed to signify
that one knows how to read, Ninisitazvabaten; this
correctly means, " I hear with the eyes." This
word is composed of Ninisitouten, " I hear," and
Niwabaten, "I see;" from these two words they
compose one which signifies "I hear by seeing:'
that is to say, " I read well," " I know what I see."
Their compounds are admirable; and I may say
that, though there should be no other argument to

226 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

pour monftrer qu'il y a vn Dieu, que l'oeconomie des
langues Sauuages, cela fufnroit pour nous conuaincre.
Car il n'y a prudence ny induftrie humaine qui puifle
raffebler tant d'hommes pour leur faire tenir l'ordre
qu'ils [177] gardent dans leurs langues toutes difre-
rentes de celle d'Europe: c'eft Dieu feul qui en
maintient la conduite. Au refte il ne faut pas s'e-
ftonner qu'vn Sauuage admire l'inuention de peindre
la parole des hommes: c'eft veritablement vn fecret
digne d'eftonnement. Quoy que les Sauuages foient
fujets a la crainte, comme les autres hommes, &
qu'ils foient moins refolus, & moins courageux dans
leurs attaques que nos Europeans, fi eft-ce qu'ils font
gloire de ne point branler, & de ne point reculer,
quand on les veut frapper, ou tout de bon, ou par
feinte. Vn Francois tenant vne pertuifane, & fai-
fant femblant d'en donner vn coup a vn Sauuage, le
bleca en effet, pour ce qu'il fe tint roide, fans efqui-
uer le coup/ il ne fe fafcha pas neantmoins, voyant
que le Francois auoit fait cela en riant : ce qui nous
eftonna, fut qu'il cacha fa bleffure, d'ou il fut par
apres fort incommode, iamais neantmoins il ne voulut
aucun mal a celuy qui l'auoit offenfe, difant qu'il
auoit fait cela par ieu.

On auroit peu remarquer ailleurs ce qui fuit. Les
voyages qu'on a fait aux pays des Annierronnons, &
la communication qu'on a eue auec eux, nous ont ap-
pris [178] vn exemple affez remarquable de la iuftice
de Dieu. Les deux Iroquois qui tuerent de fang
froid vn pauure Francois, aux pieds du Pere Ifaac
Iogues font morts d'vne mort inconnue ; l'vn des deux
eftoit le plus grand, & peut-eftre le plus fort homme
de fon pays.

1646J RELATION OF 1645-46 227

show that there is a God than the economy of the
Savage languages, that would suffice to convince us.
For there is no human wisdom nor skill which can
unite so many men, so as to make them observe the
order which they [177] maintain in their languages,
wholly different from those of Europe; it is God
alone who holds the guidance thereof. Indeed, we
should not be astonished that a Savage admires the
invention of depicting the speech of men ; it is truly
a secret worthy of astonishment. Although the
Savages are subject to fear, like other men, and
though they are less resolute and courageous in their
attacks than our Europeans, yet they take pride in
not wavering or recoiling when one tries to strike
them, either in earnest or in feint. A Frenchman,
holding a halberd, and pretending to give a thrust
with it at a Savage, wounded him in fact, because
he held still, without dodging the blow ; he was not
offended, however, seeing that the Frenchman had
done that in sport. What astonished us was that he
concealed his wound, from which he was afterward
much inconvenienced ; yet he never wished any ill
to the one who had injured him, — saying that he
had done that in play.

The reader may have observed elsewhere this
which follows. The journeys which have been made
to the countries of the Annierronnons, and the
communication that has been held with them, have
informed us [178] of a very remarkable instance of
the justice of God. The two Iroquois who killed, in
cold blood, a poor Frenchman at the feet of Father
Isaac Jogues, have died by an unknown death; one
of the two was the tallest and perhaps the strongest
man of his country.

228 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

Cette femme qui couppa le poulce au mefme Pere,
ne l'a pas fait longue apres cette rage, & ceux qui
luy rongerent les doigts, & a fes compagnons, & qui
les traiterent auec plus de rage, ont eft[e] tuez des
Algonquins en leurs derniers combats. On nous dit
que la mefme iuitice a pris connoiffance de ceux qui
ont ft miferablement dechire" le Pere Breffany : le pays
qui a confenty a ces cruautez eft afflige de maladies
qui peut-eitre donneront la vraye fante a ce pauure
peuple.

Voicy vn rencontre nouuellement amue. Dix-
fept foldats Dononiiote \sc. d'Ononiiote] s'eftas mis
en embufcade bl efferent a mort vn ieune garcon de
la bande de Teftfehat Capitaine de rifle, comme
nous auons dit cy-deffus, & en outre prirent deux
femmes dont l'vne eftoit defia fort aagee : comme ils
s'en retournoient en leurs pays, traifnans auec eux
ces deux pauures creatures, ils apperceurent de [179]
loin vn canot d'Hurons, & furent a mefme temps
decouuerts par ceux qui conduifoient ce canot ; auffi-
toit, les Hurons qui faifoient trente foldats, fe defem-
barquent pour aduifer a ce qu'ils feroient. Ceux
Dononiiote font le mefme. Les vns ne fcauoient pas
le nombre des autres, les Capitaines de ces deux
petites trouppes donnent courage a leurs gens, ils les
exhortent a ne point reculer, & a mourir pluftofl que
de lafcher le pied. C'eft la coufhime de ces Capi-
taines quand ils fe trouuent proches des occafions, de
tirer des baftons qu'ils portet expres auec eux, & de
les prefenter a leurs foldats pour les richer en terre,
afm de protefler par cette action que ces baftons
fortiront plufioft de leur place, qu'ils ne tourneront
vifage. II arriue neantmoins tres-fouuent que les

1646] RELATION OF 1643-46 229

That woman who cut the same Father's thumb,
had no long career after that rage; and they who
gnawed his fingers and those of his companions, and
who treated them with most fury, have been killed
by the Algonquins in their latest combats. We are
told that the same justice has taken cognizance of
those who so pitiably lacerated Father Bressany ; the
country which consented to those cruelties is afflicted
with diseases which perhaps will give true health to
that poor people.

Here is an incident which recently happened.
Seventeen warriors from Ononiiote, having placed
themselves in ambush, wounded to death a young
lad of the band of Teswehat, Captain of the Island, —
as we have said herein above, — and besides took two
women, one of whom was already very aged. While
they were returning thence to their own country,
dragging after them those two poor creatures, they
perceived from [179] afar a canoe of Hurons, and
were at the same time discovered by those who were
guiding that canoe. Straightway the Hurons, who
numbered thirty warriors, disembark, in order to
take counsel as to what they should do. Those of
Ononiiote do the same. Neither party knew the
number of the other. The Captains of these two
little bands encourage their people ; they exhort them
not to recede, and to die rather than to give way.
It is the custom of those Captains, when they find
themselves on the verge of combat, to draw forth
sticks which they purposely carry with them, and to
present these to their men that they may fix them
in the ground, — that they may protest by this act that
these sticks will sooner leave their place than they
will retreat. However, it happens very often that,

230 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

bartons demeurans fermes, les foldats ne laiffent pas
de s'enfuir. Cenx-cy ayans fich6 bien auant leurs
baftons, & jure a leur mode qu'ils mourroient plu-
ltoft que de branfler dans le combat, ceux Dononiio-
te" viennent les premiers pour attaquer les Hurons
qui eftoient derriere vne pointe. A leur abord il fe
fit vn grand cry de part & d' autre, felo la couftume
des Sauuages, a qui ce bruit fert de trompettes, & de
[180] tambours; les Hurons s'imaginans que leurs
ennemis les preuenans eftoient en grand nombre,
s'enfuirent auffi-toil dans les bois, a la referue de ceux
qui tinrent ferme auffi bien que leurs bartons, refolus
de mourir fur la place : ceux Dononiiote ayans recon-
nu que le cry des Hurons a l'abord eftoit plus grad
que le leur, s'enfuirent tous, fans qu'il en reftaft pas
vn feul, les cinq Hurons qui n'auoient pas lafche' le
pied, fe trouuerent fans amys ny ennemys, ils fe
regardent les vns les autres bien eftonnez : les deux
femmes prifonnieres voyans que tout le monde cou-
roit qui deca qui dela fe delient l'vne 1' autre, & fe
f auuent dans les bois auffi bien que les autres : comme
ils fuyoient fans ordre l'vne de ces femmes va ren-
contrer vn Huron, ils fe reconnoiff ent : cette pauure
prifonniere raconte fa fortune, dit que ceux Dononi-
iote n'eftoient que dix-fept. Le Huron tout furpris
court auffi-toft aduertir fes camarades, il crie tant
qu'il peut, ils fe ralient, & commencent a courir &
a coupper chemin a leurs ennemis : ils font fi bien
qu'ils en attraperent vn qu'ils ameneret a Montreal,
donnant la liberte" a cette Algonquine prifonniere.
Sa c5pagne plus aag6e s'en eftoit fuye fi loin [181]
que iamais ils ne la purent trouuer : elle reuient quel-
ques iours apres toute feule auec l'eftonnement des

1646] RELATION OF 1645 '-46 231

the sticks remaining firm, the warriors nevertheless
flee. These latter having fastened their sticks well
forward, and sworn, after their fashion, that they
would die sooner than waver in the combat, those of
Ononiiote come the first, in order to attack the Hu-
rons, who were a point behind. At their approach,
there arose a great shout on both sides, according to
the custom of the Savages, to whom this noise serves
for trumpets and [180] drums. The Hurons — imag-
ining that their enemies, forestalling them, were in
great number — fled straightway into the woods, with
the exception of those who held firm as well as their
sticks, and were resolved to die on the spot. Those
of Ononiiote" having recognized that the shout of the
Hurons at the start was greater than their own, all
fled, so that not a single one was left; the five Hu-
rons who had not given way found themselves with-
out friends or enemies, and they looked at one another
in astonishment. The two captive women — seeing
that all the people were running, some hither, some
thither — unbind each other and escape into the
woods, as well as the rest. While they were fleeing
in disorder, one of these women encounters a Huron ;
they recognize each other, and that poor prisoner
relates her fortune, and says that those of Ononiiote"
were only seventeen. The Huron, quite surprised,
immediately runs to notify his comrades; he shouts
with all his might : they rally themselves and begin
to run, to cut off their enemies' path. They succeed
in catching one of them, whom they bring to
Montreal ; and they gave liberty to that captive
Algonquin woman. Her older companion had fled so
far [181] that they could never find her: she returns
some days later, all alone, to the astonishment of

232 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

Francois & des Sauuages, qui admiroient come vne
vieille auoit pu trauerfer tant de terre, & tant d'eau,
fans viures, & fans batteau, n'ayant ny coufteau, ny
hache, ny forces pour faire vn pont permanent ou
flottant fur vne eftendue d'eau de plus de trois
lieue's. L'amour de la vie ou la crainte de la mort a
plus de force, & plus d'induftrie que le feu & le fer.
Monfieur d'Allibout s'efforca tant qu'il put, de tirer
ce prifonnier des mains des Hurons, pour faire la
paix auec fa nation, il offrit de grands prefens pour
fa deliurance : mais voyant que ces ieunes f oldats le
vouloient mener en leur pays, il les pria par vn pre-
fent de luy fauuer la vie, & de le ramener Tan pro-
chain a Onontio, a deffein de faire alliance auec ces
peuples par l'entremife de ce prifonnier. Quelque
temps apres trois cens Hurons eftans defcendus
aux trois Riuieres, Monfieur noftre Gouuerneur leur
recommanda de ne point mal-traitter ce prifonnier
qu'on auoit mene en leur pays, & de le reprefenter
en fon temps, fuiuat la parole qu'en auoient done ceux
qui l'auoient entre leurs mains. Soixante braues
Chreltiens Hurons parurent en cette affemblee, [182]
ou de la part des Iroquois furent faits des prefens
pour marque qu'ils gouitoient la douceur de la paix,
& pour affeurer les Hurons & les Algonquins, que
s'ils tuoient quelqu'vn de leur nation dans leurs com-
bats auec les SXntXaronons, que le pays ne prendroit
point leur deffenfe. Dans ce confeil les Hurons
deflinerent quelques prefens pour les Iroquois, fup-
plias Ondeffon: c'eft le nom qu'ils donnent au Pere
Ifaac Iogues, de porter leur parole a ces peuples: ce
qui leur ayant elle accorde, ce bon Pere partit bien-
toft apres pour aller paffer l'hyuer au pays de ces

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 233

both the French and the Savages. These marveled
how an old woman had been able to traverse so much
land and so much water, without provisions and
without a boat; having neither knife nor axe, nor
strength to make a bridge, either permanent or float-
ing, over an extent of water of more than three
leagues. The love of life or the fear of death has
more strength and more skill than fire and iron.
Monsieur d'Allibout strove, as well as he could, to
release that prisoner from the hands of the Hurons,
in order to make peace with his nation; he offered
great presents for his deliverance. But, seeing that
those young warriors wished to take him into their
own country, he begged them, by a gift, to save his
life, and to conduct him back the next year to Onon-
tio, — intending to make alliance with those tribes
by the mediation of that prisoner. Some time later,
three hundred Hurons having come down to three
Rivers, Monsieur our Governor urged them not to
ill-use that prisoner whom they had taken into their
country, and to bring him back in due time, accord-
ing to the promise that had been given him by those
who had the prisoner in their hands. Sixty worthy
Huron Christians appeared in this assembly, [182]
where on behalf of the Iroquois presents were made, —
in token that they were enjoying the quietness of
the peace ; and in order to assure the Hurons and
the Algonquins that, if they killed any one of their
nation in their combats with the Sonntwaronons, the
country would not undertake the defense of such.
In this council the Hurons set aside some presents
for the Iroquois, beseeching Ondesson — this is the
name which they give to Father Isaac Jogues — to
convey their word to those peoples. This having

234 LES RELATIONS DES jfiSUITES [Vol.29

Barbares, ou l'adorable Crucifie luy a fait & fera
encore joiiyr des fruiets de fa Croix.

Les vaifTeaux arriuez extraordinairement tard, me
contraignent de mettre en ce Chapitre vne action qui
meriteroit vn volume tout entier. Nous auons receu
cette ann£e vn magnifique Tableau du Roy de la
Reyne, & de Monfieur: c'eft vn prefent Royal de
cette augufte PrincefTe, qui ne fe pouuant faire voir
en perfonne a fes fujets nouuellement conuertis a
Iesvs-Christ, leur enuoye vne Image des pre-
mieres grandeurs du monde. Cette bonte" eft rauif-
fante: tous les Francois en ont reffenty des ioyes
toutes pleines de refpedt, & les Sauuages en ont
temoigne' de 1' admiration au dela de nos penftSes. Le
Pere, a qui ce Tableau eftoit enuoye pour le produire
a la veue de ce peuple, ayant affemble les principaux
de ceux qui font en la refidence de S. Iofeph, leur fit
vne petite harangue, [183] t6moignant que ces grandes
majeftez demandoient le fecours de leurs prieres,
pour eux & pour leurs Eftats. Que ne pouuant pa-
roiftre en perfonne en ce nouueau monde, ils fe fai-
foient voir dans leurs Portraits, pour affeurer par la
bouche de leur Interprete, que leur plus grand defir
eftoit que tous les peuples de la terre reconneuffent, &
adoraffent Iesvs-Christ. Or comme c'eft la cou-
ftume de ne point parler en public que les prefens
en la main, Monfieur noftre Gouuerneur auoit donne
trois robes, & trois arquebufes, que le Pere offrit aux
trois Capitaines qui fe trouuerent en cette affembl£e:
le ne fuis que l'organe, leur dit-il, de ceux que vous
voyez d£peints auec tant de grace, & de majefte das
ce riche Tableau : Ils vous pref entent des robes pour
conferuer la chaleur de voftre piete" & de voftre

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 235

been granted them, this good Father departed soon
after, in order to go and spend the winter in the
country of those Barbarians, — where the adorable
Crucified has caused him, and will still cause him,
to enjoy fruits of his Cross.

The vessels having arrived unusually late, con-
strain me to place in this Chapter a deed which would
deserve a whole entire volume. We have received
this year a magnificent Portrait of the King, of the
Queen, and of Monsieur: it is a Royal gift from that
august Princess, who, not being able to show herself
in person to her subjects newly converted to Jesus
Christ, sends them an Image of the chief dignitaries
of the world. This kindness is delightful ; all the
French have experienced from it the most reveren-
tial joy, and the Savages have shown for it admira-
tion beyond what we would have supposed. The
Father to whom this Picture was sent, in order to
exhibit it to the view of this people, having assembled
the principal persons of those who are at the resi-
dence of St. Joseph, made them a little harangue,
[183] indicating that those great majesties asked the
help of their prayers, for them and for their Estates ;
and that, not being able to appear in person in this
new world, they showed themselves in their Portraits,
in order to give assurance, by the mouth of their
Interpreter, that their greatest desire was that all the
peoples of the earth should acknowledge and adore
Jesus Christ. Now, since it is the custom not to
speak in public but with gifts in hand, Monsieur our
Governor had given three robes and three arque-
buses, which the Father offered to the three Captains
who were present in this assembly. " I am only the
voice," he said to them, " of those whom you see

236 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

deuotion, & des armes pour proteger la Foy, & def-
fendre tous ceux qui l'ont embraffee, & qui l'embraf-
feront. L'vn des Capitaines fe leuant repartit en
ces termes. Mon Pere, ce que tu dis, eft admirable :
mais pleut a Dieu que nous puiffios voir en perfonnes
ceux qui nous rauiffent en leurs portraits. II eft vray
que nous les croyons quafi viuans, leurs yeux nous
regardet, & vous diriez que leur bouche nous veut
parler: Mon Pere, tu nous empefche d'eftre recon-
noiffans: car tu dis des chofes trop grades; qui fom-
mes nous pour obtenir de Dieu des benedidtions pour
noftre grand Capitaine, & pour fon frere, & pour
cette grande Capitaineffe leur mere? C'eft a vous
qui conoiffez la priere, de parler a Dieu. II n'y a que
3. iours que nous fommes baptifez, nous ne fcauons
pas bien ce qu'il luy faut dire pour de fi grads
perfonnages nous l'aymons neantmoins, & nous luy
dirons tout ce que nous feauons : mais nous f cauons
peu. [184] Pour la Foy, nous la garderons & la
deffendrons toute noftre vie: encore qu'il n'y ait pas
long-teps que ie l'aye receue, il me femble que ie l'ay
auffi forte que fi i'auois efte* baptize des ma naiff[a]n-
ce: mais, mon Pere, inftruy-nous, & nous apprend ce
qu'il faut dire a Dieu pour ceux qui nous donnent
tant de fecours, noftre cceur ayme, mais noftre
bouche ne fcait pas ce qu'il faut dire. La deffus ils fe
mirent a genoux, & firet tout haut leurs prieres par
plufieurs reprifes, entremelant des Cantiques qu'ils
chantoiet auec vn accord qui n'a rien de fauuage.
Cela fait, ils fe leuent tous bien eftonnez de que ces
portraits les regardoient de quelque cofte qu'ils fe
tournaffent. Ils paffoient & repaffoient en diuers en-
droits, prenans garde s'ils ne verroient point mouuoir

1646] RELA TION OF 1643-46 237

depicted with so much grace and majesty in this rich
Picture. They present you with robes, in order to
preserve the warmth of your piety and devotion ; and
with arms, to protect the Faith and to defend all
those who have embraced it and who shall embrace
it." One of the Captains, rising, answered in
these terms: " My Father, what thou sayest is ad-
mirable; but would to God that we might see in
person those who delight us in their portraits.
Indeed, we almost believe them living; their eyes
look at us, and you would say that their lips wish to
speak to us. My Father, thou hinderest us from
being grateful; for thou sayest things too grand.
Who are we, that we should obtain from God bless-
ings for our great Captain and his brother, and for
that great Captainess, their mother? It is for you
who understand prayer, to speak to God. It is only
3 days since we were baptized; we do not well
know what is necessary to say to him for personages
so great. Nevertheless, we love him, and we will
say to him all that we know ; but we know little.
[184] As for the Faith, we will keep it and defend it
as long as we live. Although it is not long since I
received it, it seems to me that I hold it as strongly
as if I had been baptized from my birth. But, my
Father, instruct us, and teach us what we ought to
say to God for those who give us so much help ; our
hearts love, but our lips know not what ought to be
said." Thereupon they placed themselves on their
knees, and repeatedly said aloud their prayers, —
intermingling some Hymns, which they sang with a
harmony far from savage. That done, they all
arose, much astonished that those portraits looked at
them in whatever direction they turned. They passed

238 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

leurs yeux, puis fe mettans a rire ils s'6crioient, en
verity, ils nous fuiuent des yeux en quelques endroits
que nous allions.

Le Pere les voyant dans 1' admiration, demanda a
l'vn de nos Capitaines combien de Caflors il eftime-
roit bien vn Tableau fi magnifique : fi ie refpondois,
repliqua-il, ie dirois vne mauuaife parole: il n'y a
point de prix, mais bien du refpedt pour des chofes
fi grandes. Les Caflors ne font rien, cela eft quelque
chofe. Leurs yeux ne fe pouuoient fouler dans les
regards d'vn objet fi Royal. Ils expliquoient a leur
mode toutes les particularitez de ce bel ouurage,
temoignans des fatisfadtions que le papier ne peut
reprefenter. Ces adtions leur donnent dans la veue,
& leur font croire que le Dieu que les Grands adorent,
eft grand, & que la priere paffe leur eftime, puifque
les Roys de la terre en demandent le fecours de fi
loin, & de leurs fujets.

FIN.

1646] RELATION OF 1643-46 239

and passed again, in various places, taking notice
whether they might not see their eyes move ; then,
beginning to laugh, they exclaimed: " In truth, they
follow us with their eyes in whatever places we go. ' '
The Father, seeing them in admiration, asked
one of our Captains at how many Beavers he would
probably value a Picture so magnificent. "If I
answered," he replied, " I would not speak correctly;
there can be no price, but only reverence, for things
so great. Beavers are nothing; that is something. "
Their eyes could not be satiated with the sight of an
object so Royal. They explained, after their fash-
ion, all the details of that beautiful work, — betoken-
ing a satisfaction which writing cannot represent.
These acts appeal to their sight, and make them
believe that the God whom the Great adore is great,
and that prayer is beyond estimation, since the
Kings of the earth request its help from so far, and
from their subjects.

END.

240 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

Relation de ce qvi s'eft paffe de plvs remar-

qvable en la Miffion des Peres de la Com-

pagnie de lESVS. Avx Hvrons, pais

de la Novvelle France, depvis le

mois de May de l'annee 164^.

iufqu'au mois de May de

l'annee 1646.

1646] RELATION OF 1643-46 241

Relation of what occurred most noteworthy in

the Mission of the Fathers of the Society

of Jesus, among the Hurons, a country

of New France, from the month

of May in the year 164^, until

the month of May in the

year 1646.

242 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

[3] Av Reverend Pere Eftienne Charlet Provin-
cial de la Compagnie de Iesvs, en
la Prouince de France.

MON REVEREND PERE,
L'obligation que i'ay d'informer V. R. de
l'eftat du Chriftianifme en ces pais, & de
V employ qu'y trouuent les Peres de noftre Compa-
gnie, demanderoit de moy vne Relation plus longue
que n'en ont fourny les annees precedentes, fi mon
deflein eftoit de vous faire vn recit de toutes les
graces que Dieu va continuant fur nos trauaux au
milieu de cette barbarie: Mais fcachant bien qu'on
attend des chofes nouuelles, & qu'on prendroit pour
des redites les actions de ferueur, & les fentimens
de piete de nos Neophytes [4] Chreftiens, qui peu-
uent auoir quelque reffemblance aux faueurs que
cette Eglife auroit receu de Dieu, ces premier[e]s
annees; ie me fuis refolu d'obeir en cela au fenti-
ment le plus commun, & me retrancher dans vne
brieuete" plus etroite, n'efcriuant qu'vne partie des
chofes qui pourront paroiftre nouuelles. Quoy que
ie n'ignore pas que le Ciel a bien d'autres veues que
la terre, que le couronnement des graces de Dieu eft
la continuation des mefmes graces, & que noftre
amour, nos ferueurs, & nos fidelitez luy font d'autant
plus agreables qu'elles font moins nouuelles. Ainfi
pour les annees fuiuantes nous nous condamnerions
volontiers au filence, s'il ne fe prefentoit rien de

1646J RELA T10N OF 1645-46 243

[3] To the Reverend Father Estienne Charlet,

Provincial of the Society of Jesus,

in the Province of France.

MY REVEREND FATHER,
The obligation which I have, to inform
Your Reverence of the state of Christianity
in these countries, and of the employment which the
Fathers of our Society find therein, would require of
me a Relation longer than the preceding years have
furnished, if my design were to make you a recital
of all the favors which God still continues upon our
labors in the midst of this barbarism. But — know-
ing well that new tidings are expected, and that one
might regard as old repetitions the acts of fervor and
the sentiments of piety of our Neophyte [4] Chris-
tians, which may have some resemblance to the
favors which this Church received from God in those
first years — I have resolved to obey, in this matter,
the most common feeling, and to restrict myself
within even greater brevity, writing only a part of
the things which will possibly appear new. At the
same time, I am not ignorant that Heaven has many
other objects of vision than the earth; that the
crowning act of the graces of God is the continuation
of the same graces; and that our love, our fervor,
and our acts of fidelity are all the more agreeable to
him that they are less new. Thus, for the years
following, we would gladly condemn ourselves to
silence, if there arose nothing new, — provided that

244 LES RELA TIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol. 29

nouueau; pourueu que nous viffions toujours cette
petite Eglife fortified de ce mefme efprit qui l'anime
dans fa naiflance, que les mefmes graces du Ciel
d6coulaffent fur elle ; & que les cceurs des nouueaux
Chreftiens conceuffent les m6mes fentimens que nous
aurons pu remarquer en ceux qui les ont preceded
Dieu fans doute en tireroit fa gloire, & nous aurions
fuiet d'eftre contens en vn ouurage, oil il y auroit
plus du lien que du noftre; & [5] alors ie m'afTeure
que les voeux de l'vne & 1' autre France, du Ciel
& de la terre fe verroient richement accornplis. Nous
auons befoin pour cet efifet des prieres de toute la
France, V. R. nous les procurera s'il luy plaift, & y
ioindra les fiennes & fes SS. SS. de V. R.

Tres-humble & obeyffant feruiteur
en N. S. Paul Rag[ue]neav.

Des Hurons ce 1. May 1646.

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 245

we might always see this little Church fortified with
that same spirit which animates it in its nativity ;
that the same graces of Heaven should flow down
upon it; and that the hearts of the new Christians
should conceive the same sentiments which we have
been able to remark in those who have preceded
them. God, no doubt, would derive his glory from
it, and we would have cause to be content in a work
wherein there would be more of his doing than of
ours; and [5] then, I assure myself, the wishes of
the one and the other France, of Heaven and of the
earth, would see themselves richly fulfilled. We
have need, for this purpose, of the prayers of all
France ; Your Reverence will procure them for us if
you please, and will add to them your own and your
Holy Sacrifices. Your Reverence's

Very humble and obedient servant
in Our Lord, Paul Ragueneau.

From the Hurons, this 1st of May, 1646.

246 LES RELATIONS DES /^SUITES [Vol.29

CHAPITRE I.

DE L'ESTAT DU PAYS.

QVOY qu'a vray dire cette derniere annee ne
puiffe pas eftre appellee heureufe pour nos
Hurons, toutefois leurs malheurs ayans efte
moins frequents que par le paff<§, ie les puis compa-
rer a ceux qui ayans eit.6 abyfmez pour vn temps
dans l'orage de quelque tempefte, commencent a
refpirer de leur naufrage. La terre leur a efte plus
liberale que l'an pafle, le bled d'Inde, qui ell le prin-
cipal de [6] leurs richeffes, eftant venu quafi par tout
a vne heureufe maturity. Les lacs & les riuieres leur
ont fourny du poifTon auec abondance. Le trafic
qu'ils ont eu auec les nations eloignees, ne leur a pas
mal reiiffy. Tous ceux qui defcendirent l'Efte
dernier au magazin de Quebec & des Trois Riuieres,
ayans trouue tout le chemin paifible, par les foings
de Monfieur de Montmagny noftre gouuerneur, ont
remply le pais de ioye, autant que de nos marchan-
difes Francoifes, dont ils s'eftoient veus d6pouillez
depuis cinq ou fix ans, par les Iroquois ennemis, qui
rendoient ce commerce impofLible, ou du moins fi
terrible, qu'il a coufte" la vie & des martyres de feu, a
la plufpart de ceux qui font tombez entre leurs
mains. Les maladies contagieufes qui alloient de-
peuplants nos bourgades, les laiflent maintenant en
repos.

II n'y a que la guerre qui tient les affaires en
balance : car elle continue toufiours auec les quatre

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 247

CHAPTER I.

OF THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY.

ALTHOUGH, truly speaking, this past year can-
not be called a happy one for our Hurons,
yet, their misfortunes having been less fre-
quent than in the past, I may compare them to those
who, having been submerged for a time in the storm
of some tempest, begin to breathe again from their
shipwreck. The earth has been more liberal than
last year, — the Indian corn, which is the chief of [6]
their riches, having come almost everywhere to a
fortunate maturity. The lakes and the rivers have
furnished them with fish in abundance. The trade
which they have had with distant nations has brought
them no little gain. All those who went down, last
Summer, to the warehouses at Quebec and Three
Rivers, having found the entire road at peace,
through the care of Monsieur de Montmagny, our
governor, have filled the country with joy as well as
with our French wares, of which last they had seen
themselves robbed, during five or six years past, by
the hostile Iroquois, who were rendering that com-
merce impossible, — or, at least, so perilous that it
cost life and martyrdoms of fire most of those who
fell into their hands. The contagious diseases which
were depopulating our villages now leave them at
rest.

It is only the war that keeps affairs in suspense,
for it still continues with the four Iroquois nations

248 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

nations Iroquoifes plus voifmes de nos Hurons, n'y
ayant que la cinquiefme & la plus eloigned d'icy,
qui ait entre" das le traite" de paix qui fe comeca l'an
pafse\ le veux dire que dans les diuers [7] rencon-
tres que nos Hurons ont eu depuis vn an auec leurs
ennemys, les fuccez de leurs armes ont efte* partagez.

D6s le commencement du Printemps vne bande
d'Iroquois eflant abord6e proche d'vne de nos bour-
gades frontieres, a la faueur d'vne nuidt tres-obfcure,
& s'eftant cachee dans les bois, enueloppa vne
trouppe de femmes qui ne faifoient que fortir pour
le trauail des champs, & les eurent enleu£es fi
promptement dans leurs canots, que deux cens
hommes en armes, qui accoururent aux premiers cris;
ne peurent arriuer affez toft pour en fauuer aucune,
fi bien pour eftre les t6moins des triltes larmes de
leurs femmes, de leurs meres, & de leurs enfans qu'on
emmenoit captifs.

Sur la fin de l'Efte, les Iroquois & nos Hurons
ayans pris la campagne de part & d'autre, & s'eftant
trouu6e au rencontre dans le milieu des bois; nos
Hurons s'eftoient iettez d'vne contenance fi refolue
fur l'ennemy retranche' dans vn fort, ou il auoit paffe
la nuidt, que la vidtoire eftoit de-ja demy gaignee, fi
leur conduite eut refpondu a leur courage. Les Iro-
quois demandent a parlementer, proteftent [8] qu'ils
n'ont que des deffeins de paix, ils jettent bas leurs
arquebufes, & les lient en pacquet, pour t6moigner
que mefme ils n'ont pas defTein de combatre, quand
bien on voudroit tous les maffacrer : ils font paroiftre
de grands coliers de pourcelaine qui 6bloui'ffent les
yeux de nos Capitaines Hurons, ils prefentent a la
ieuneffe plus affamee quantite d'orignac, des Cerfs

1046] RELATION OF 1643-46 249

nearest to our Hurons; it is only the fifth, the most
distant from here, which has entered into the treaty
of peace that began last year. I mean to say that,
in the various [7] encounters which our Hurons have
had within a year with their enemies, the successes
of their arms have been divided.

At the beginning of Spring, a band of Iroquois —
having landed near one of our frontier villages, by
favor of a very dark night, and having concealed
itself in the woods — surrounded a company of women
who were just going out for work in the fields, and
so quickly carried them off in their canoes, that two
hundred men in arms, who ran up at their first cries,
could not arrive soon enough to save one of them,
but were only in time to witness the sad tears of
their wives, their mothers, and their children, who
were taken captive.

Toward the end of the Summer, — the Iroquois
and our Hurons having taken the field on both sides,
and having come to hostilities in the midst of the
woods, — our Hurons had so resolutely thrown them-
selves upon the enemy intrenched in a fort, where he
had passed the night, that the victory was already
half won, if their tactics had corresponded to their
courage. The Iroquois demand a parley, and protest
[8] that they have only designs of peace ; they throw
down their arquebuses and tie them in bundles, to
show that they have not even the intention to fight,
even should the Hurons choose to massacre them all ;
they display great porcelain collars, which dazzle
the eyes of our Huron Captains; they present to
the young men, who are quite famished, many
elk, Deer, and Bears, entire, which they had taken
by the way; they invite the elders to an amicable

250 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

& des Ours entiers qu'ils auoient pris faifants che-
min ; ils inuitent les plus anciens a vne conferance
amiable, & diitribuent quantite de petun, pour cepen-
dant entretenir le refle de l'armee.

Durant ce pour-parler vn Iroquois qui autrefois
auoit demeure fort long-temps icy captif dans les
Hurons, & s'eftoit naturalize auec eux ; mais depuis
ces dernieres annees auoit efte recouure par les enne-
mis, leur donna luy feul la vicftoire. Cet homme fe
detache des liens, fe iette dans l'armee Huronne, ou
ayant apperceu quelques-vns de remarque, mefcontens
de n'auoir point efte" appellez a ce confeil de paix, il
iette la defiance en leur efprit, fait entendre aux
vns qu'il y a de la trahifon, corropt les autres par
prefens, [9] enfin il ioue fi bien fon perfonnage, que
ceux-cy s'eitans retirez de l'armee, & les autres
ayans pris l'efpouuante, tout fe trouuant dans le def-
ordre, l'ennemy reprit fes efprits, & fe ietta fur ceux
qui ayans perdu les penfees de combattre, fe virent
vaincus dans leur vidtoire, les vns eitans maffacrez
fur le lieu, les autres entraifnez en captiuite, la plus
grande part n' ayant trouue fon afTeurance que dans
la fuitte.

Nos Hurons auffi a leur tour ont eu du fuccez en
leurs armes, ont mis en fuitte l'ennemy, en ont rem-
porte des defpouilles, & quelque nombre de captifs,
qui ont ferui de victimes a leurs flames, & aux feux
de ioye qu'ils en ont fait, auec les cruautez ordinaires
a ces peuples.

Ie ne parle point de diuers maffacres qui fe font
faits de part & d'autre, comme a la derobee; quoy
que ie ne puiffe taire deux actions de courage qui
meritent de trouuer icy quelque lieu.

1646J RELATION OF 1645-46 251

conference; and they distribute much tobacco, in
order meanwhile to entertain the rest of the army.

During this negotiation, an Iroquois — -who had
formerly sojourned a very long time here, a captive
among the Hurons, and had become naturalized with
them ; but within these last years had been recovered
by the enemies, — gave them, himself alone, the vic-
tory. This man detaches himself from his people,
and makes his way into the Huron army, where —
having perceived certain men of note, dissatisfied at
not having been called to that council of peace — he
scatters distrust in their minds, persuades some that
there is treason, and corrupts others by presents.
[9] Finally, he acts his character so well that —
these latter having withdrawn from the army,
others having taken flight, and everything being in
disorder — the enemy recovered their spirits, and fell
upon those who, having lost the thoughts of fight-
ing, saw themselves conquered in their victory.
Some were massacred on the spot, and others dragged
into captivity, — most having found their safety only
in flight.

Our Hurons too have had, in their turn, success in
warfare, have put to flight the enemy, and have
carried off their spoils and some number of captives ;
these have served as victims to their flames, and to
the bonfires that they have made of them, with the
cruelties common to these peoples.

I speak not of various massacres which have oc-
curred on both sides, in secret, as it were — though
I cannot pass over in silence two acts of courage
which deserve to find some room here.

Our Hurons, having had information of an army
which had designs on the Village of Saint Joseph,

252 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

Nos Hurons ayans eu aduis d'vne arraee qui auoit
deffein fur le Bourg de Saindt Iofeph, y attendoient
c6t ennemy bien refolu de le combattre. La ieuneffe
fait la garde de nuidt montant au haut de [10] leurs
guerittes, & pouffant diuers chants de guerre d'vne
voix fi terrible, que les campagnes & les forefts
voifines la portants encore plus loin, on ne peut pas
douter qu'on ne foit prepare au combat. Quelques
auanturiers Iroquois qui nonobftant ces cris, auoient
fecretement fait leurs approches, firent vn coup aflez
refolu. Voyans que le fommeil faifoit taire ces
fentinelles, l'aube du iour qui commencoit a poindre,
leur ayant entierement oite les defiances de l'enne-
my: vn d'eux grimpe feul comme vn efcurieu, au
haut de la gueritte, y trouue deux hommes endormis,
il fend la teft[e] a l'vn, precipite le fecond en bas, &
le iette a fes compagnons qui luy ecorchent & luy
enleuent la peau de la tefte, tandis que le meurtrier
defcendoit, & fe fauuerent tous d'vne courfe fi prompte
que les Hurons accourus a la voix de ceux qu'on
6gorgeoit, ne peurent iamais les atteindre.

Pour vanger cet affront, trois Hurons quelque
temps apres, firent vn coup non moins refolu. Apres
vingt iourn£s de chemin, ils arriuent a Sonnontouan,
le plus peuple des villages ennemys, y trouuans les
cabanes fermees, ils en percent [n] vne par le cofte,
y entrent dans le filence & l'obfcurite de la nuidt, y
rallument les feux qui s'y eftoient efteints: a la
faueur de cette nouuelle lumiere, chacun choifit fon
homme pour luy fendre la tefte, leur enleuent la che-
uelure, a 1' ordinaire des vainqueurs, mettent le feu
dans la cabane & l'efpouuante dans le Bourg, d'oii ils
fe retirent auec tant de bon-heur & d'adreffe que

1646 J RELATION OF 1645-46 253

were awaiting that enemy there, fully resolved to
combat him. The young men keep guard at night,
mounting aloft on [10] their watch-towers, and utter-
ing various war songs in voices so terrible that, the
fields and the neighboring forests bearing them still
further, no one can doubt that they are prepared for
the combat. Some Iroquois adventurers who, not-
withstanding these cries, had secretly made their
approaches, performed an act sufficiently resolute.
Seeing that sleep was causing those sentinels to be
silent, — the dawn of day, which was beginning to
break, having entirely removed their distrust con-
cerning the enemy, — one of these Iroquois climbs
alone, like a squirrel, to the top of the watch-tower,
and finds two men asleep there. He splits the head
of one, dashes down the second and throws him to
his companions, who cut and remove the skin from
his head, while the murderer was descending; and
all escaped by running, so swiftly that the Hurons,
hastening to the voices of those who were being
slaughtered, could never catch them.

To avenge this affront, three Hurons, some time
after, struck a blow not less daring. After twenty
days' march, they arrive at Sonnontouan, the most
populous of the hostile villages; finding there the
cabins closed, they break [11] into one of them, at
the side, and enter it in the silence and darkness of
the night. They rekindle the fires therein, which
had gone out; by favor of this new light, each one
chooses his man, in order to split his head. They
remove their hair, as is usual with the victors, set
fire to the cabin, and inspire terror in the Village, —
whence they withdraw, with so much good fortune

254 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

iamais plus de neuf cent guerriers ne peurent arrelter
leur firitte.

Ce font les guerres de ces peuples, dont le fleau
n'a pas tombe fur les feuls infideles: plufieurs de nos
Chreftiens ayans efte tuez ou pris dans ces rencontres,
& nous ayans laiffe cette feule confolation, que le Ciel
fe trouue chaque annee enrichy de nos pertes.

1646] RELA TION OF 1643 - 4& 2&5

and skill that more than nine hundred warriors could
never arrest their flight.

Such are the wars of these peoples, the scourge of
which has not fallen upon the infidels alone, — sev-
eral of our Christians having been killed or taken in
these encounters, and having left us only this con-
solation, that Heaven finds itself each year enriched
by our losses.

256 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

CHAPITRE II.
DE l'estat du christianisme.

L?IDEE que ie puis donner de cette petite Eglife,
naiffante au milieu de la barbaric, eft de la
comparer a vne armee qui eft dans le combat,
& qui eftant partagee [12] en diuers efcadrons, fe
void affoiblie d'vn cofte, enfonce l'ennemy de l'autre;
& quoy qu'elle fouffre des pertes, fe fouftient inuin-
cible en fon corps, & demeure victorieufe dans le
camp de bataille ; non pas exterminant fon ennemy,
qui toujours va renouuelant fes combats, mais fe for-
tifiant elle mefme auec gloire, plus elle eft attaquee.
Nous auons change en refidences, les Miffions
que nous faifions aux Bourgs de la Conception de S.
Iofeph, de S. Ignace, de S. Michel, & de S. lean
Baptifte, qui ont occupe cette annee dix des noftres.
La miffion du S. Efprit ne peut auoir de demeure
affeuree, n 'eftant pas vne chofe poffible de fixer cinq
ou fix nations Algonquines& errantes, qui font ref pan-
due's fur les coftes de noftre grand lac, a plus de cent
cinquante lieues d'icy ; & a la conquefte def quels nous
n'auons pu toutefois enuoyer que deux de nos Peres.
Deux autres font demeurez en noftre maifon de Sainte
Marie, qui eft le centre du pais, & le cceur de toute
nos miffions: d'oii nous tafchons de fournir aux
necemtez de toutes nos Eglifes, & ou trois fois depuis
vn an, nous auons eu la confolation [13] de nous voir
relinis, pour y conferer des moyens neceff aires a la

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 257

CHAPTER II.
OF THE STATE OF CHRISTIANITY.

THE idea that I can give of this little Church,
rising in the midst of barbarism, is to com-
pare it to an army which is in the fight, and
which, being separated [12] into various squadrons,
sees itself weakened on one side, but breaks through
the enemy on the other; and, though it suffers losses,
maintains itself invincible in its organization, and
remains victorious in the field of battle, — not exter-
minating its enemy, which still goes on renewing the
combat, but strengthening itself with glory, the
more it is attacked.

We have changed into residences the Missions
which we were conducting at the Villages of la
Conception, St. Joseph, St. Ignace, St. Michel, and
St. Jean Baptiste ; these have occupied this year ten
of our number. The mission of the Holy Ghost can
have no fixed abode, as it is not possible to settle
five or six Algonquin and roving nations, which are
spread along the shores of our great lake, more than
one hundred and fifty leagues from here, — and for
whose conquest we have, nevertheless, been able to
send only two of our Fathers. Two others have
remained in our house of Sainte Marie, which is the
center of the country and the heart of all our mis-
sions : whence we try to supply the necessities of all
our Churches. There, too, three times within a
year, we have had the consolation [13] of seeing

LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.29

conuerfion de ces peuples, & nous y animer mutuelle-
ment a tout fouffrir, & faire ce que nous pourrons,
afin que Dieu y foit Adore\

Pour moy qui refte le dernier de quinze de nos
Peres qui font icy, ie n'ay point eu de partage arrefte,
afin de pouuoir me detacher plus librement, parcourir
toutes les miffions, & demeurer en chaque lieu autant
que les neceffitez prefentes m'obligeoient d'y faire
fejour. D'ou en fuitte i'ay eu la confolation d'eftre
tefmoin des ferueurs de ce nouueau Chriftianifme
refpandu au milieu de l'infidelite\ d'y admirer le cou-
rage de ces bons Neophytes, & d'y voir des fentimens
de piete fi detachez de la nature, qu'il faut de neceffite-
aduoiier que vrayement Dieu eft le maiftre des cceurs,
que la Foy ne dedaigne point les barbares, & que le
faindt Efprit ne met point la difference entre nos
ames, que l'ceil pourroit trouuer entre nos corps.

En chacune de fes Eglifes, nous y auons bafty des
Chapelles afTez raifonnables, nous y auons pendu des
Cloches qui fe font entendre affez loin, & par tout la
plufpart des Chreftiens font fi foigneux [14] d'affifler
a la Meffe qui fe f onne au leuer du Soleil ; & le f oir
de venir aux prieres, auant mefme que le fon de la
Cloche les en ait aduerty, qu'il eft aise de voir que
cette diligence eft enfemble vne des caufes & vn
fruit de leur ferueur.

Les Dimanches ils redoublent leurs deuotions, s'y
difpofans deux & trois iours auparauant, nommement
ceux qui ont deflein & permiffion d'approcher de la
Sainte Table : & tous les Chreftiens ayans pris cette
fainte couftume de iamais ne paffer la Semaine, fans
s'eftre confeffez.

Sur le Midy ils s'affemblent au fon de la cloche

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 259

ourselves reunited, in order to confer there upon
means necessary to the conversion of these peoples,
and there to animate one another to suffer everything,
and to do what shall be in our power, to the end that
God may be Adored.

As for me, who remain the last of fifteen of our
Fathers who are here, I have not had a definite share
of the work, that I might be able to detach myself
more freely, to go the round of all the missions, and
to remain in each place as long as its present neces-
sities obliged me to sojourn there. In consequence
of this arrangement, I have had the consolation of
witnessing the fervors of this new Christianity that
has spread abroad in the midst of infidelity; of
admiring in it the courage of these good Neophytes ;
and of seeing among them sentiments of piety so
detached from nature that one must needs avow that
God is truly the master of hearts, that the Faith does
not disdain the barbarians, and that the holy Ghost
does not make the difference between our souls which
the eye might find between our bodies.

In each one of these Churches, we have built fairly
adequate Chapels; we have suspended Bells therein,
which make themselves heard at a considerable dis-
tance; and, everywhere, most of the Christians are
so solicitous [14] to attend the Mass which rings at
Sunrise, and at evening to come to prayers, — even
before the sound of the Bell has given them notice
thereof, — that it is easy to see that this assiduity is
at once a cause and a result of their fervor.

On Sundays they increase their devotions, prepar-
ing for the same two or three days before, — especially
those who intend and have permission to approach
the Holy Table; and all the Christians have adopted

260 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

pour le Sermon ou Catechifme, & en fuitte ils diffent
leur chapellet, quelquefois tous de compagnie, quel-
quefois partagez en deux chceurs, & plus fouuent fe
fuccedans les vns aux autres, arm de remplir plus
faindtement tous les momens de ce Saint jour.

Cette annee nous auons baptize cent foixante &
quatre perfonnes.

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 261

that devout custom of never passing the Week with-
out having confessed.

Toward Noon, they assemble at the sound of the
bell for the Sermon or Catechism, and then they say
their rosaries, sometimes all together, sometimes
divided into two choirs, — and more often succeeding
one another, so as to occupy more sacredly all the
moments of that Holy day.

This year we have baptized one hundred and
sixty-four persons.

262 LES RELATIONS DES jtSUITES [Vol.29

[15] CHAPITRE III.

ACTIONS REMARQUABLES DU ZELE DE QUELQUES

CHRESTIENS.

IVSQU'A maintenant le zele de nos Chreftiens
s'eftoit, ce femble, retenu dans les cabanes au
milieu de quelques affemblees, du moins n'auoit-
il pas paru fi publiquement & auec tant d'efclat qu'il
s'eft fait du depuis reconnoiftre : Lors que le feu
embraze puiffamment vn cceur, il faut enlin qu'il fe
faffe ouuerture, & qu'il pouffe fes flammes au dehors,
pour embrazer les autres des mefmes ardeurs qui le
confomment.

Eflienne Totiri de la Minion de faindt Iofeph f ut le
premier qui commenca. Tout le pais eftoit ailemble
dans le Bourg de S. Ignace pour y bruler vn pauure
miferable captif , qui ayant quafi autant de bourreaux
que de fpedtateurs, eflancoit des cris effroyables, qui
alloient animants la rage & la cruaute des Hurons,
bien loin de tirer de leur coeur aucun mouuement de
pitie. Au milieu de ces cris & de ces [16] feux
barbares, ce bon Chreftien anime d'vn feu plus diuin,
s'ecrie publiquement a tout ce monde. Efcoutez infi-
deles & voyez en cet homme 1' image du mal-heur qui
vous accueillira pour vne eternite.- qui pourra de
vous autres fouftenir la cholere d'vn Dieu, la rage
des demons, & s'apriuoifer a des flammes toujours
impitoyables, pour ceux qui auront refuse en ce
monde d'eprouuer les bontez de Dieu, d'obe'ir a fes
loix, & reconnoiftre fon pouuoir?

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 263

[15] CHAPTER III.

REMARKABLE INSTANCES OF THE ZEAL OF SOME

CHRISTIANS.

UNTIL recently, the zeal of our Christians had
apparently confined itself within the cabins,
in the midst of some assemblies, — at least, it
had not appeared so publicly and with so much
luster as it has since made itself manifest. When
the fire powerfully kindles a heart, it must needs at
last have vent, and must drive its flames outward, in
order to kindle the others with the same ardors which
consume itself.

Estienne Totiri, of the Mission of saint Joseph,
was the first to begin. The whole country was
assembled in the Village of St. Ignace, in order to
burn there a poor miserable captive, — who, having
almost as many executioners as spectators, was utter-
ing frightful cries, which, far from drawing from
their hearts any impulse of pity, only tended to ex-
cite the rage and the cruelty of the Hurons. In the
midst of these cries and these [16] barbarous fires,
that good Christian, animated with a more divine fire,
exclaims publicly to all that company: " Listen, infi-
dels, and see in this man the image of the woe that
will greet you for an eternity. Who of you people
will be able to endure the anger of a God, and the
rage of demons, and accustom himself to flames that
are forever inexorable to those who shall have
refused in this world to experience the kindness of

264 LES RELATIONS DES JJESUITES [Vol.29

Iamais on n'auoit entendu au milieu de ces cruau-
tez de femblables harangues: on eft arrelte" des
menaces fi eftonnantes de ce nouueau predicateur.
Non, non, mes freres, adioufte-il; ne croyez pas
que ie veille arracher ce captif de vos mains, ny
procurer fa liberie : le temps de tout fon bon-heur eft
pafse, & maintenant qu'il brule dans les flammes, la
feule mort peut mettre fin a fes miferes: Mes com-
paffions font pour vous mefmes ; car ie crains pour
vous, infideles, des mal-heurs mille fois plus terribles,
& des flammes plus deuorantes, a qui voitre mort
donnera le commencement, & qui iamais n'auront
de fin.

Apres auoir long-temps parle des horreurs [17] de
l'Enfer, & fur tout de l'eternite de fespeines: Mes
freres, leur dit-il, ce n'eft pas encore pour vous vn
malheur fans remede : adorez ce grand Dieu qui a
cree & les cieux & la terre, & tremblez a la veue de
fes iugements effroyables ; alors l'Enfer n' aura plus
de flammes pour vous: mais fl la mort vous furprend
dans rinfldelite, ces fournaifes ardentes, & ces feux
foufterrains feront voftre partage, le defefpoir vous
faifira pour vn iamais, & alors trop tard vous croirez,
eftans tombez dans ce malheur, que noftre foy eft
veritable, que les Chreftiens ont choifi le meilleur
party, & qu'ils ont raifon de trembler, & craindre
pour vous, autant que pour eux mefmes, vn peril
dont tous les hommes ne peuuent auoir aflez de
crainte.

Plufieurs des affiftans furent touchez d'vn fi faindt
zele d'autres l'apellerent folie; mais ie ne doubte
point que les Anges du Ciel ne rallumaffent puiffam-
met, du moins parut-il emcace pour le falut de ce

1646] RELA TION OF 1643 -46 265

God, to obey his laws, and acknowledge his power? '
Never had there been heard, in the midst of these
cruelties, the like harangue ; the tormentors desist at
the threats, so astonishing, of this new preacher.
" No, no, my brothers," he adds, " do not think that
I wish to seize that captive from your hands, or to
procure his liberty ; the time of all his happiness is
past, and, now that he burns in the flames, death
alone can put an end to his miseries. My compas-
sion is for yourselves ; for I fear for you, infidels,
woes a thousand times more terrible, and flames more
devouring, — for which your death will furnish a
beginning, and which will never have an end."

After having a long time spoken of the horrors [17]
of Hell, and especially of the eternity of its pains,
" My brothers," he said to them, "it is not yet for
you a woe without remedy. Adore that great God
who has created both the heavens and the earth, and
tremble at the sight of his awful judgments ; then
Hell will have no more flames for you. But, if death
surprise you in infidelity, those burning furnaces,
and those subterranean fires, will be your portion;
despair will seize you forever. And then — too late,
having fallen into that misfortune — you will believe
that our faith is true ; that the Christians have chosen
the better part ; and that they have reason to tremble
and fear for you, as much as for themselves, a peril
whereof all men cannot have sufficient dread."

Several of those present were touched by so holy
a zeal ; others called it madness. But I doubt not
that the Angels of Heaven kindled it potently, — at
least, it appeared efficacious for the salvation of this
poor captive, who, at the climax of his miseries,
found the beginning of his happiness.

266 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

pauure captif, qui au plus fort de fes miferes, trouua
le commencement de fon bon-heur.

Eftienne s'approche de luy: Mon camarade, [18]
luy dit-il, ie n'ay point de flammes & de tifons en
main, ny de tourmens pour toy; ne crains point mes
approches, ie ne fonge qu'a te faire du bien. Ton
corps eft en vn eftat deplorable, ton ame eft pour
bien-toft s'en feparer, elle feule viura pour lors, &
fera capable ou de bon-heur, ou de mal-heur, felon
l'eftat auquel tu te trouueras a la mort. Si tu veux
inuoquer auec moy vn efprit tout-puifiant, qui luy
feul a cree nos ames, qui veut le bien de tous les
hommes, & qui les ayme ; il t'aymera pour vn iamais,
attirera ton ame a foy, & dans le Ciel tu feras a
iamais bien-heureux auec luy. Ceux qui manquent
de l'honnorer, n'ont point de part dans ce lieu de
bon-heur, les demons qui habitent fous terre, en-
trainent leurs ames captiues, & comme elles font
immortelles, ils leur font fouffrir des cruautez & des
tourmens, qui iamais ne trouueront de fin.

Ce pauure homme demy rofty, commence a refpi-
rer a ces nouuelles: Helas, dit-il, eft-il done vray
qu'il y ayt vn lieu de bon-heur dans le Ciel, pour
ceux mefmes qui font miferables en ce monde?
Quelques Hurons de ceux que nous auos [19] brule,
nous racontoient ces chofes, & fe confoloient dans les
flammes, attendans, difoient-ils, ce grand bon-heur
du Ciel: nous penfions que e'eftoient des fables;
eft-il done vray que ce foient veritez?

Eftienne continue a l'inftruire, & trouue vn cceur
tout difpofe a nos myfteres, qui ne foufpire que le
Ciel, & qui quatre ou cinq fois demande le Baptefme.
A ces mots les Hurons infideles commencent a

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 267

Estienne approaches him; " My comrade," [18]
he says to him, " I have no flames and firebrands in
hand, or torments for thee ; do not fear my approaches ;
I think only of doing thee good. Thy body is in a
deplorable state ; thy soul is about to separate from
it, and then alone will remain alive, and be suscep-
tible to either happiness or woe, according to the con-
dition in which thou shalt find thyself at death. If
thou wilt invoke with me an all-powerful spirit, —
who himself alone has created our souls ; who desires
the good of all men, and who loves them, — he will
love thee forever, and will draw thy soul to himself ;
and in Heaven thou wilt be forever blessed with him.
Those who fail to honor him, have no part in that
place of happiness; the evil spirits who dwell
beneath the earth lead their souls captive, and, as
they are immortal, cause them to suffer cruelties and
torments which will never find an end."

This poor man, half roasted, begins to breathe
afresh at these tidings. "Alas!" he says, "is it
then true that there is a place of happiness in Heav-
en for those very ones who are miserable in this
world? Some Hurons, of those whom we have [19]
burned, told us these things, and consoled them-
selves in the flames, — awaiting, they said, that great
happiness of Heaven. We thought that those were
fables ; is it then true that they were realities ? '

Estienne continues to instruct him, and finds a
heart wholly disposed to our mysteries, — which longs
only for Heaven, and which four or five times asks
for Baptism. At these words, the infidel Hurons
begin to offer resistance, and vigorously to oppose
themselves to the salvation of their enemy, — shout-
ing that his soul must be burned forever by the

268 I I'S RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

apporter des refiftances, & a s'oppofer puiffamment
an falut de leur ennemy, crians qu'il falloit que fon
ame ftit bruise a iamais des Demons de l'Enfer, & que
fi eux mefmes pouuoient perpetuer fes peines, iamais
elles n'auroient de fin. Eftienne voulant hafter fon
coup, cherchant de l'eau pour ce Baptefme, ne trouue
pres de foy que des feux & des flammes. II fend la
prefle & court en hafte dans les cabanes querir de
l'eau: enfin ayant effuye mille iniures & bon nombre
de coups, vn chacun le pouffant pour luy faire repan-
dre fon eau, fa charite fut plus forte que leur malice,
& fon zele fe rendit vidtorieux de tout, & embraza fi
puiffamment le cceur de ce pauure home de douleurs,
qu'il fembloit s'oublier de fon mal, ayant [20] receu
le faindt Baptefme, & n'auoir plus de voix, finon pour
s'£crier qu'il feroit heureux dans le Ciel.

Au retour, comme les Chreftiens vouloient fe
conioiiir auec Eftienne de fon zele : Helas, mes freres,
leur dit-il, ie fuis vn ver de terre, ce n'eft pas Eftienne
qui a fait ce Baptefme, mais noftre Seigneur qui
fortifioit ma foibleffe, & me mettoit dans le coeur les
paroles qui fortoient de ma bouche: i'auois Commu-
nis ce matin, & delors i'ay fenti vn feu qui me bru-
loit, & que ie n'euffe pas pu contenir en moy-mefme:
fi Dieu ne me pouffoit au peu de bien que ie puis
faire, ie ne ferois puiffant que pour le mal & le
peche.

A propos de cet Iroquois baptize, ie me fouuiens
du zele d'vne pauure vefue Chreftienne, nominee
Anne Outennen, qui quoy que moins public, n^ant
quafi eu que Dieu feul pour tefmoin, ne me paroift.
pas moins aimable. On parloit de bruler vn captif :
nos Peres auoient de la peine a trouuer accez pr6s de

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 269

Demons of Hell, and that, if they themselves could
perpetuate his pains, they would never have an end.
Estienne wishing to hasten his deed, and seeking
water for this Baptism, finds near him only fires and
flames. He breaks through the press and runs in
haste into the cabins to fetch some water; finally,
having undergone a thousand insults and numerous
blows, — each man pushing him, in order to make
him spill his water, — his charity was stronger than
their malice, and his zeal rendered him victorious
over everything. So powerfully did it kindle the
heart of that poor man of griefs that he seemed to
forget his pain, having [20] received holy Baptism,
and to have no more voice, except to exclaim that
he would be happy in Heaven.

At his return, when the Christians wished to con-
gratulate Estienne upon his zeal, " Alas! my broth-
ers," he said to them, " I am an earthworm; it is not
Estienne who has performed this Baptism, but our
Lord who strengthened my weakness, and put in my
heart the words which issued from my lips. I had
received Communion this morning, and from that
time I felt a fire which was burning me, and which I
could not have contained within myself. If God did
not impel me to the little good that I can do, I would
not be powerful except for evil and sin."

In connection with this baptized Iroquois, I remem-
ber the zeal of a poor Christian widow, named Anne
Outennen, which — though less public, having had
almost no one but God alone for witness — appears to
me not less lovable. There was talk of burning a
captive ; our Fathers had difficulty in finding access
to him, the infidel Hurons applying more and more
all their efforts to prevent the Baptisms of their

270 LES RELATIONS DES //'.SUITES [Vol. 29

luy, les Hurons infideles apportans de plus en plus
tous leurs efforts, pour empefcher les Baptefmes de
leurs ennemis. Cette bonne Chreitienne touchee du
falut de cette [2 1] ame, s'eftant mife a prier pour elle,
fe fent pouffee d'aller prendre vne hache, qui luy
reftoit, & qui eftoient fes plus grandes richeffes: la
va fecretement offrir a ceux qui auoient foin de ce
captif, tachant de leur gaigner le cceur, afin qu'ils ne
s'oppofaffent plus au Baptefme de c£t homme deftine
a la mort. Mais fans doute que cette charite gaigna
encore plus puiffamment le cceur de Dieu; car en
fuitte nos Peres trouuerent non feulement vn accez
fauorable aupres de ce captif, mais luy trouuerent
vne ame fi difpofee a receuoir la foy, qu'ils virent
bien que le faindt Efprit y trauailloit plus qu'eux, &
qu'il falloit qu'vn fi faindt zele luy euft merite* cette
grace.

Quelques Chreftiens du Bourg de S. Ignace, crai-
gnans cet Automne dernier, que les Capitaines infi-
deles ne follicitaffent les plus foibles de cette Eglife
aux fuperftitions du pais, & ne deftournaffent de la
foy ceux qui n'y auroient pas encore affez de ferme-
te\ fe refolurent d'eux mefmes de preuenir la tenta-
tion. lis vont trouuer ces Capitaines, leur portent
des prefens pour le fifque public, & les prient de
laiffer leur Eglife en repos. Nos Peres [22] en ayans
appris la nouuelle, au lieu de s'en conioiiir auec eux,
temoignent n'en eftre pas contens, & craindre au
moins qu'on n'euft fait ouuerture a vne chofe qui
peut tirer en confequence; les infideles pouuans
predre de la fujet de vexer les Chreftiens, fous l'efpe-
rance de tirer d'eux de femblables prefens.

Et quoy, Dieu ne voit-il pas noftre cceur, reparti-

1646 J RELATION OF 1645-46 271

enemies. This good Christian woman, moved for
the salvation of that [21] soul, having begun to pray
for it, feels herself impelled to take a hatchet that
still remained to her, and that was her greatest
riches ; she goes secretly to offer it to those who had
charge of this captive, — trying to win their hearts,
so that they should no longer oppose themselves to
the Baptism of this man destined to death. But,
without doubt, this charity gained still more mightily
the heart of God; for, in consequence, our Fathers
found not only easy access to this captive, but in
him a soul so disposed to receive the faith, that
they saw well that the holy Ghost was working in it
more than they, and that it must needs be that a zeal
so holy had deserved for him this grace.

Some Christians of the Village of St. Ignace — fear-
ing, this last Autumn, that the infidel Captains might
solicit the weaker ones of that Church to the super-
stitions of the country, and might turn aside from
the faith those who should not yet have sufficient
firmness in it — resolved, of themselves, to prevent
temptation. They go to find these Captains, convey
to them presents for the public treasury, and beg
them to leave their Church at rest. Our Fathers,
[22] having learned news of this, instead of congratu-
lating them, show that they are not satisfied there-
with, and that they fear, at the least, that the way
has been opened for something that may lead to con-
sequences,— as the infidels may thence take occasion
to annoy the Christians, in the hope of drawing from
them similar presents.

' ' But what ? does not God see our hearts ? ' ' replied
these good Christians; "is it not for him to take
account of these losses, and to restore them to us

272 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

rent ces bons Chreftiens, n'eft-il pas pour tenir copte
de ces pertes, & nous les rendre auec vfure, & les
prefens que nous auons fait, font-ils plus precieux
que Tame de nos frere[s].^ Ceux qui font foibles cet
hyuer, & pour qui nous craignons la cheute, feront
plus forts auec le temps, & rendront a leur tour vne
femblable charit6 a ceux qui en auront befoin. Tu
nous as dit, & nous le croyons, que les biens de la
terre ne font que pour le Ciel, & que fi nous n'en
faifons vn bon vfage, ils feront noftre plus grand
malheur.- Les pouuons nous mieux employer que
pour le falut de quelqu'vn? Si pour nous, tu as
quitte" la France, tes parens, tes plaifirs, tes amis,
& tout le bien que tu auois: pourquoy trouues tu
mauuais que nous ayons quitte vne fi petite partie du
noftre ?

[23] Dans vn des Bourgs des plus attaches de ces
pais aux danfes deffendues, & aux abominations
infames, que ceux qui paffent icy pour Magiciens,
ordonnent de la part des Demons, afin de detourner
les malheurs qu'ils predifent: Les Capitaines n'y
voyans plus la chaleur des ann£es precedentes,
entreprirent d'y mettre remede. Ils parcourrent les
rues, crians a haute voix qu'on ait pitie d'vn pays
qui fe va perdant, a caufe qu'on neglige les ancien-
nes couftumes: que la foy eft trop rigoureufe de
iamais ne donner de difpenfe a fes loix, & qu'au
moins on cefle pour vne nuidt & pour vn iour de faire
office de Chreftien. Ils penetrent dans les cabanes,
ils follicitent tout le monde, & fur tout ceux qu'ils
iugent les plus foibles en la foy.

Vn bon Chreftien ne pouuant plus long-temps
fupporter cet opprobre; & quoy, dit-il, le diable aura

1646] RELATION OF 1643-46 273

with usury? and the presents that we have made, —
are they more precious than the souls of our brothers?
Those who are weak, this winter, and whose fall we
dread, will be stronger in course of time, and will
extend, in their turn, a similar charity to those who
shall need it. Thou hast told us, — and we believe
it, — that the goods of earth are only for Heaven ; and
that, if we do not make a good use of them, they
will be our greatest misfortune. Can we employ
them better than for the salvation of some one? If
for us thou hast left France, thy relatives, thy pleas-
ures, thy friends, and all the property that thou
hadst, why dost thou take it ill that we have given
up so small a portion of ours ? ' '

[23] In one of the Villages, — of those most attached,
in these countries, to the forbidden dances, and to
the infamous abominations which those who here
pass for Magicians order on the part of the Demons,
so as to avert the misfortunes which they predict, —
the Captains, no longer seeing the fervor of preced-
ing years, undertook to apply a remedy thereto.
They traversed the streets, shouting in loud voices
that pity be taken on a country which is going to
ruin because the old customs are neglected ; that the
faith is too rigorous, in never granting dispensation
from its laws; and that, at least, people may cease
for one night and one day to perform Christian
service. They make their way into the cabins ; they
solicit every one, and especially those whom they
judge weakest in the faith.

A good Christian, who could no longer endure this
reproach, says: " What? shall the devil have tongues
hired for his service, and shall God, who is the mas-
ter, not be served ? ' He leaves his cabin, entirely

'274

LES RELA TIONS DES jESUITES [Vol. 29

des langues gag£es pour fon feruice, & Dieu qui eft
le maiftre, ne fera pas feruy. II fort de fa cabane
tout tranfporte de zele, il va fuiure ces Capitaines,
entre dans les maifons des infideles & des Chreftiens ;
& par tout y va annoneant les menaces de Dieu,
contre [24] les pecheurs & leurs crimes, auec vne
eloquence & vne force de raifons ft preffantes, que
tous les Chreftiens demeurerent dans leur deuoir, &
mefme plufieurs infideles, qui admiroient vne fi fainte
liberie, en vn homme particulier, qui n'auoit de foy
aucune a[u]thorite, fmon celle que l'amour de fa foy
& de fon zele, luy faifoient prendre.

Nos Peres de la miffion de S. Iofeph voyans croiftre
le nombre de leurs morts, pour rendre leur cemetiere
plus augufte, y porterent en proceffion vne grande
croix, fortans de la Chappelle & trauerfans le Bourg,
a la veue de tous les infideles. Les Chreftiens qui y
affiftoient effuyerent beaucoup de mocqueries, des
langues blafphemantes qui fe rioient de leur fimpli-
cite, de porter auec tant de refpedt vn tronc de bois,
qui en effet n'auoit point de plus rare beaute, que
celle qu'vne viue foy y retrouue, & qu'vn ceil infidele
ne peut enuifager.

Dans quelque temps de la, les enfans de ces infi-
deles, imitants l'impiete de leurs peres, ietterent a
cette croix des pierres & des ordures qui y gatterent
quelque chofe. Eftienne Totiri, qui en l'abfence de
[33 i.e., 25] nos Peres, fert de dogique a cette Eglife,
s'eftima oblige de fouftenir en cette iniure l'honneur
de Dieu. Le foir venu il monte en haut fur le toit
de fa cabane, & pour affembler tout le Bourg, fait vn
cry d'vne voix eftonnante, femblable a ceux qui fer-
uent de fignal, lors que quelqu'vn vient d'apperceuoir

1646] RELA TION OF 1645-46 275

carried away with zeal ; he goes to follow those Cap-
tains, and enters into the houses of the infidels and
of the Christians. He goes everywhere, announcing
the threats of God against [24] sinners and their
crimes, with an eloquence and a force of arguments
so urgent that all the Christians remained in their
duty ; and even several infidels did so, admiring so
holy a freedom in a private individual, — who had, of
himself, no authority except that which his love for
the faith and his zeal caused him to assume.

Our Fathers of the mission of St. Joseph — seeing
that the number of their dead increased — in order to
render their cemetery more august, carried thither in
a procession a great cross, issuing from the Chapel
and passing through the Village, in the sight of all
the infidels. The Christians who took part therein
endured many mockeries from blasphemous tongues,
which made sport of their simplicity in bearing with
so much respect a trunk of wood, — which indeed
had no rarer beauty than that which a living faith
discovers in it, and which an infidel eye cannot
contemplate.

Some time after that, the children of these infi-
dels, imitating the impiety of their fathers, cast at
this cross stones and filth, which somewhat injured
it. Estienne Totiri, who in the absence of [33 i.e., 25]
our Fathers, serves as dogique u to this Church,
deemed himself obliged to maintain, in regard to
this insult, the honor of God. Evening having set
in, he mounts aloft on the roof of his cabin, and, in
order to assemble the whole Village, he gives a shout
in an astounding voice, — similar to those which serve
as signals when some one has just perceived the ene-
my, or some army which hastens its approaches. All

276 LES RELATIONS DES JESUJTES [Vol.29

l'ennemy, ou quelque arm6e qui hafte fes approches.
Tout le monde accourt a la foulle & en armes, pour
entendre de quel cofte" vient l'ennemy. Tremblez,
mes freres, leur dit-il, le mal eft a nos portes, & l'en-
nemy dans noitre Bourg. On profane le cemetiere
des Chreftiens, Dieu en vengera l'infolence : ceflez
d'irriter fa colere, arreftez vos enfans, autrement
vous participez a leur crime, & la punition en tom-
bera egalement fur tous. Les corps morts font des
chofes facrees, & mefme parmy vous infideles, on
leur porte refpedt, & on fait crime de toucher a vn
auiron pendu a vn fepulchre. Qu'on rompe ma mai-
fon, qu'on me frappe, & qu'on me tue moy-mefme;
ie le verray fans refiftance, & le fupporteray auec
amour: mais lors qu'on s'attaquera aux chofes con-
facrdes a Dieu, tandis que i'auray [26] quelque refte
de voix, ie vous feray fgauoir I'enormite de voftre
crime, & vous diray que c'eft vne chofe terrible de
prendre Dieu pour ennemy. En vn mot il leur parla
fi puiflamment, que du depuis les parens ont reprime"
l'infolence de leurs enfans, & fe font retenus eux-
mefmes en leur deuoir.

Mais le zele des Chreftiens qui nous paroift plus
efficace & plus adtif, eft celuy qui les porte a procu-
rer la conuerfion de ceux de leur famille. Vn Pere
gagnera fes enfans a Dieu, vne mere fes filles; le
mari couertira fa femme, & la femme Chreftienne
rendra fon mari Chreftien; & fouuent mefmes les
enfans qui les premiers ont embraffe la foy, fandti-
fient leurs parens infideles, auec des attraits & des
charmes, que la nature fortinee de la grace, & le
Saint Efprit leur enfeigne fans autre maiftre. Et le
bon eft, que l'experience nous apprend, que la pluf-

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 277

the people run in a crowd, and with arms, to hear from
which direction the enemy comes. " Tremble, my
brothers," he says to them; " the evil is at our doors
and the enemy in our Village. The cemetery of the
Christians is profaned; God will avenge this inso-
lence. Cease to provoke his wrath ; check your chil-
dren ; otherwise you participate in their crime, and
the punishment for it will fall alike on all. Dead
bodies are sacred things; and even among you infi-
dels they are shown respect, and one commits a crime
if he touch a paddle suspended to a sepulchre. Let
them break down my house, let them strike me, and
let them even kill me, — I will see it without resist-
ance, and will endure it with love ; but when they
shall attack things consecrated to God, as long as I
shall have [26] any remnant of voice I will make you
know the enormity of your crime, and will tell you
that it is a terrible thing to take God as an enemy."
In a word, he spoke to them so forcibly that since
then the parents have repressed the insolence of their
children, and have kept themselves within their duty.
But the zeal of the Christians which appears to us
most efficacious and most active is that which inclines
them to procure the conversion of those of their own
families. A Father will win his children to God, —
a mother, her daughters ; the husband will convert
his wife, and the Christian wife will render her hus-
band Christian; and frequently even children, who
have first embraced the faith, sanctify their infidel
parents with attractions and charms which nature,
fortified by grace, and the Holy Ghost, teach them
without other master. And the best of it is, that
experience teaches us that most of those who are won
to God by this means have in their faith something

278 LES RELATIONS DES JESUITES [Vol.29

part de ceux qui font gaignez a Dieu par cette voye,
ont en leur foy ie ne fcay quoy de plus inebranlable,
& qui mefme fe fortifie, pluftoft que d'eftre affoibly,
par la mort tant des vns, que des autres.

Vn bon vieillard du Bourg de la Conception, [27]
ayant enfin gaigne a Dieu par fes difcours, par fes
exemples, & plus encore par la force de fes prieres &
de fes larmes, vne famille tres-nombreufe, fa femme,
fes enfans, & les enfans de fes enfans; voyant vn
iour en fa maifon quelque faute aflez pardonnable,
& pluftoft vn fimple manquement de ferueur, qu'vn
peche\ Et quoy, dit-il, font-ce la les promelfes que
vous auez donne a Dieu, receuant le Baptefme?
Songez-vous que nous fommes Chreftiens, & qu'il
faut que noftre foy paroiffe dans nos ceuures? Vou-
lez-vous en offencant Dieu me chaffer d'icy? Ie fuis
vieil & fans forces, mais i'auray moins de peine de
traifner vne vie miferable, errant quelque part dans
les bois, que de me voir aupres de vous, fi vous penfez
a quitter Dieu : la mort me fera plus douce, eftant
abandonne des homes, que de viure en vne maifon
d'impiete. Ce peu de mots entrecouppez des fotipirs
& des larmes d'vn pere, vaut mieux que dix mille de
nos fermons.

Le mefme defcendant l'an pafCe a Quebec, pour
tout Adieu a fa famille, ne leur parla que de l'eftime
qu'ils deuoient auoir de leur foy : & en finiffant fon
difcours; [28] Si ie fuis pris des Iroquois, dit-il,
n'ayez pas la penfee que Dieu m'ait delaifle: ie
l'aimeray dedans ces feux, & vous croyez auffi qu'il
m'aura ay me dans ces flammes. Ne pleurez pas ma
mort; ie verrois vos larmes du Ciel, & ne pourrois
les approuuer; puis qu'alors mes douleurs feroient

1646] RELATION OF 1645-46 279

indefinably more steadfast, which even becomes
strengthened, rather than weakened, by the death of
one or the other.

A good old man of the Village of la Conception,
[27] having at last gained to God, by his words, by
his example, and still more by the force of his prayers
and his tears, a very numerous family, — his wife,
his children, and his children's children, — seeing
one day in his house some rather pardonable fault,
and rather a simple want of fervor than a sin, says:
" How now? are those the promises that you gave
to God on receiving Baptism? Do you realize that
we are Christians, and that our faith must appear
in our works? Will you, by offending God, drive
me away from here? I am old and without strength,
but I shall have less pain in protracting a wretched
life, wandering somewhere in the woods, than in
seeing myself near you, if you think of forsaking
God. Death will be sweeter to me, abandoned by
men, than living in a house of impiety." These few
words, interrupted by a father's sighs and tears, are
worth more than ten thousand of our sermons.

The same man, going down last year to Quebec,
for all his Adieu to his family, spoke to them only
of the esteem which they ought to have for their
faith; and, in finishing his remarks, [28] " If I am
taken by the Iroquois," he said, " do not have the
idea that God has forsaken me ; I will love him in
those fires, and do you also believe that he will love
me in those flames. Do not mourn my death; I
would see your tears from Heaven, and could not
approve them: since my griefs would then be all
wiped away, and you would be failing either in faith,
or in love for me, to weep for me when I should be

•J m , LES EEL A TIONS 1 > ES JES UI TES [Vol. 29

toutes effuy£es, & que vous manqueriez, ou de foy,
ou d'amour pour moy, de me pleurer lors que ie
f erois bien-heureux : laiffons les larmes aux infideles,
ou du moins employons les a pleurer leur mal-heur,
pourueu que nous mourrions Chreftiens, & que noltre
ame foit pour le Ciel, qu'importe ou noltre corps foit
confomme; icy, ou dans le feu des Iroquois? A ces
mots fa femme & fes enfans ne peuuent plus tenir
leurs larmes; ce bon vieillard eft luy mefme touche,
la nature ne pouuant fe trahir plus long-temps foy-
mefme ; ils fe parlent & fe refpondent par leurs yeux.
Enfin la plus agee des filles, prenant la parole pour
tous les autres, luy refpondit: Mon Pere, fi vous
mourrez, attirez nous au Ciel, & obtenez de Dieu que
noftre foy foit auffi viue que la voftre : pour moy ie
quitteray pluftoft la vie, que de m'oublier & de vous,
& de Dieu.

[29] Les Sauuages ne font pas fi fauuages qu'on
les croit en France, & ie puis dire auec verite que
l'efprit de plufieurs ne cede en rien aux noftres.
I'aduoue que leurs couftumes & leur naturel a ie ne
fcai quoi de choquant, au moins [pour] ceux qui n'y
font pas appriuoifez, & qui les rebuttent trop toft,
fans affez les connoiftre. Mais fi d'vn Cheual fou-
gueux & qui n'a rien que la nature, en le domtant, on
en fait vn Cheual de prix, qui ne cede en rien a tous
ceux, qui d'vn long-temps font eleuez dans le menage ;
peut-on s'eftonner que la foy entrant dans l'efprit
d'vn barbare, corrige en luy ce qu'il y a de vicieux,
& luy donne les fentimens de la raifon & de la grace,
qu'eprouuent ceux qui font nez dans le Chriftianifme.
II eft vray que leur facon de s'enoncer eft differente
de la noftre : mais comme la parole du cceur eft la

1646] RELA TION OE 1645-46 281

blessed. Let us leave tears to the infidels; or, at
least, let us employ them in weeping for their mis-
fortune. Provided that we die Christians and that
our souls be for Heaven, what matters it where our
bodies be consumed, — here, or in the fire of the Iro-
quois?" At these words, his wife and his children
can no longer contain their tears ; this good old man
is himself touched, — for nature can no longer deny
itself; they hold mutual intercourse with their
eyes. Finally, the eldest of the daughters, speaking
for all the others, answered him: "My Father, if
you die, draw us to Heaven, and obtain from God
that our faith be as living as yours; as for me, I will
sooner give up life than forget either you or God."
[29] The Savages are not so savage as is supposed
in France ; and I may say with truth that the intel-
ligence of many yields in nothing to ours. I admit
that their customs and their natural tendencies are
extremely shocking, — at least to those who are
not accustomed to them, and who reject them too
quickly, without sufficiently knowing them. But if
of a spirited Horse, which has nothing about him but
nature, one makes, by taming him, a valuable Steed,
which yields in no respect to all those which for a
long time have been trained in the riding-school, —
can one be astonished that the faith, entering the
mind of a barbarian, corrects in him what is vicious,
and gives him the sentiments of reason and grace
which those experience who are born in Christianity ?
It is true that their manner of expression is different
from ours : but, since the word of the heart is the
same in all men, one cannot doubt that their tongue
has also its beauties and its graces, as much as ours.

282 LES RELATIONS DES JESULTES [Vol.29

mefme dans tous les hommes, on ne peut pas douter
que leur langue n'ait auffi fes beautez, & fes graces,
autant que la noftre. Quoy qu'ils habitent dans les
bois, ils n'en font pas moins hommes. Mais reue-
nons a noftre fuiet.

I 'ay admire fouuent la conftance du [30] zele d'vne
ieune femme Chreftienne, nommee Noelle Aouendous
de la Million de fainct lean Baptifte, & fa piete infa-
tigable a conuertir fa mere. Dieu l'eprouuoit de
tous coftez, & tous les mal-heursraccueilloient; mais
au plus fort de fes miferes, il fembloit a la voir,
qu'elle n'euft point de fentiment pour foy : du moins
eftoient ils etouffez dans les defirs violens, que fans
ceff e elle reff entoit, de hafter cette conuerfion : &
nuidt & iour c'eftoient fes entretiens, fes efperances,
& le bon-heur qu'elle attendoit, pour fe confoler de
fes peines; fon plus grand mal, & a l'entendre, fon
vnique afflidtio, eftant de voir les retardemens de fa
mere dans les affaires de fon falut. Mais quoy, luy
difoit-on, n'es tu point affligee de te voir dans vne fi
grande pauurete? Nenny, refpondoit-elle, ie ne puis
defirer les richeffes ; ie porte mes miferes auec ioye,
& ne puis demander a Dieu qu'il me mette plus a
mon aife: quand il m'auroit rendue la plus riche
de ce pais, pourroy-ie luy offrir quelque chofe plus
agreable que ma pauurete, & l'eftat dans lequel il me
veut? mais c'eft ma Mere qui m'afflige, n'ayant pas
pitie de foy-mefme, & refufant [31] la foy, qui luy
vaudroit, auffi-bien qu'a moy, toutes les richeffes du
monde.

Enfin la conftance de cette bonne rllle l'efpace de
quatre ans, fes exhortations, fes prieres auoient
conuerty cette mere infidele. C'eftoit vne femme

It546] RELATION OF 1643-46 283

Although they live in the woods, they are none the
less men. But let us return to our subject.

I have often admired the constancy of the [30] zeal
of a Christian young woman, named Noe'lle Aouen-
dous, of the Mission of saint Jean Baptiste, and her
indefatigable piety in converting her mother. God
was trying her on all sides, and all misfortunes were
assailing her; but at the climax of her miseries it
seemed, to look at her, that she had no feelings for
herself, — at least, they were stifled in the strong
desires which, without ceasing, she felt for hastening
that conversion. Both night and day, that was the
.subject of her conversations, her hopes, and the
happiness that she was awaiting in order to console
herself for her pains, her greatest misfortune — and,
to hear her, her only affliction — being to see her
mother's delays in the affairs of her salvation. " But
what?" they said to her, "are you not afflicted to
see yourself in so great poverty? " " Nay," she an-
swered, " I cannot desire riches; I bear my miseries
with joy, and cannot ask of God that he put me more
at my ease. Even though he should have rendered
me the richest in this country, could I offer him any-
thing more agreeable than my poverty, and the state
in which he chooses to place me? But it is my
Mother who afflicts me, not having pity for herself,
and refusing [31] the faith, — which would be worth
to her, as well as to me, all the riches in the world."

Finally, the constancy of this good daughter for
the space of four years, her exhortations, and her
prayers, had converted that infidel mother. She was
a woman extremely attached to the superstitions of
the country, and one who always had had an aversion
for Christianity, as well as love for her life, — -which

284 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol. 29

attached au poffible aux fuperititions du pais, & qui
toufiours auoit eu des auerfions du Chriftianifme,
autant que d'amour pour fa vie, qu'elle croyoit ne
pouuoir eftre longue, fi iamais elle embraffoit la foy.

Les iugemens de Dieu font par tout adorables : car
en effet auffi-toft qu'elle fe fut rendue a la foy, vne
mort fi fubite nous l'emporta, que les infideles nous
l'ont reproch6e mille fois, comme fi la feule foy en
euft efte la caufe. Quoy qu'il en foit, celuy feul qui
tient en fes mains les ames de fes eleus, & qui difpofe
pour leur bien des heures & des minutes de leur vie,
auoit change fi a propos le cceur de cette femme, que
le foir mefme, auant que de mourir, comme fi elle
eufl eu vn preffentiment de ce qui deuoit arriuer,
quoy qu'elle parut en tres-bonne fante, elle adioufta
d'elle-mefme aux prieres qu'elle faifoit, qu'il plufl a
Dieu luy donner vne heureufe mort, qu'elle n'auoit
[32] plus aucune attache pour la vie.

Dans les larmes de toute la famille, la feule fille
fongeant que fa mere eitoit das le Ciel, beniffoit
Dieu de l'auoir fi toft prife a foy, & quelques iours
apres eftant interrogee d'vn de nos Peres, quel fenti-
ment il luy reitoit de cette mort: le croy, refpondit-
elle, que Dieu me l'a oft6e, parce que ie cherchois plus
a la contenter que Dieu mefme; car quoy que ie
tachaffe de luy offrir tout mon trauail, toutefois le
contentement de ma mere me donnoit ce femble plus
de ioye, que la penfee que i'euffe deu auoir que Dieu
eftoit content.

Durant fon deiiil, qui pour les femmes, confifte en
ces pays, a ne vifiter perfonne, a marcher la tefte &
les yeux baiffees, a eftre mal veftues, mal peign^es,
& auoir vn vifage craffeux, & mefme quelquefois tout

1646] /: EL A TION OF 1645 - 4*>

she believed could not be long, if ever she embraced
the faith.

The judgments of God are everywhere adorable :
for, in fact, as soon as she had surrendered to the
faith, she was carried away from us by a death so
sudden that the infidels have reproached us with it a
thousand times, as if the faith alone had been the
cause of it. Be this as it may, he alone who holds in
his hands the souls of his elect, and who ordains for
their good the hours and minutes of their lives, had
so seasonably changed the heart of this woman that
the very evening before dying, — as if she had had a
presentiment of what was to happen, although she
appeared in very good health, — she added, of her-
self, to the prayers that she was saying, that it might
please God to give her a happy death, and that she
had no [32] longer any attachment to life.

Amid the tears of the whole family, the daughter
alone, reflecting that her mother was in Heaven,
blessed God for having so soon taken her to himself.
Several days later, being asked by one of our Fathers
what feeling was left to her as a result of this death,
" I believe," she answered, " that God has taken her
from me because I was seeking more to satisfy her
than God himself; for, although I tried to offer him
all my toil, nevertheless the satisfaction of my mother
seemed to give me more joy than the thought that I
ought to have had, that God was pleased."

During her mourning, — which in this country, for
the women, consists in not visiting any one, in walk-
ing with the head and eyes lowered, in being ill-
clad, ill-combed, and having a dirty face, and even
sometimes all blackened with charcoal, — this good
Christian could not then express the joys of her heart.

LES RELA TIONS DES JJESUITES [Vol. 29

noircy de charbon.- Cette bonne Chreftienne ne
pouuoit alors exprimer les ioyes de fon coeur. C'eft
maintenant, difoit-elle, que ie reconnois qu'il eft vray
que Dieu careffe ceux que le monde meprife ; car ne
me reftant que luy feul, auquel ie puiffe & veille
plaire, depuis la mort de mon mari, & de ma mere
(mes freres & mes parens m'ayants abandonnee,
[33] a caufe que ie fuis Chreftienne) ie voy bien que
luy feul me fuffit, & qu'il me tient abondamment
lieu de pere & de mere, de parens & de tout.

FinifTons ce Chapitre par les larmes, mais des
larmes de zele, d'vn bon Chreitien du Bourg de la
Conception, nomme Rene Tfondihouonne. Ce bon
homme n'eft rien que charite & amour pour la foy:
il va parcourant les cabanes, vifitant les malades,
inftruifant les Chreftiens, prechant aux infideles,
confondant les impies; en vn mot ie le puis appeller
l'appuy de cette Eglife & l'Apoftre de ion pais. Cet
hyuer s'eftant mis a faire oraifon, en fuitte d'vn recit
qu'il auoit entendu des fatigues, & des fouffrances de
Saint Paul, trauaillant a la conuerfion des gentils; il
ne put contenir f es larmes ; & tout tranfporte hors
de foy, s'adreffant a Noftre Seigneur, luy fit fes
plaintes de foy mefme, auec autant de foy & de fer-
ueur, que s'il l'euft veu de fes yeux. Oiiy mon Sau-
ueur, luy difoit-il, il eft vray que ie fuis fans zele
& fans amour pour vous, & que ie porte fans effet le
nom de Chreftien. Ie n'ay rien fouffert en ce monde,
& n'ay rien fait pour vous faire connoiftre. [34] Le
Paradis eft bien donne a ces grands Saints, qui ont
verfe leur fang, & qui font morts pour la deffence de
la foy ; Saint Paul l'a merite : Mais comment y puis-ie
pretendre ne fouffrant rien pour vous? Non, mon

1 646 1 RELA TION OF 1645 -46 287

"It is now," she said, " that I recognize the truth,
that God cherishes those whom the world despises;
for, he alone remaining to me, — -whom I can and
will please since the death of my husband and my
mother (my brothers and my relatives having aban-
doned me [33] because I am a Christian), — I see well
that he alone suffices me, and that he abundantly
takes for me the place of father and mother, of rela-
tives, and all."

Let us finish this Chapter with the tears — but tears
of zeal — of a good Christian of the Village of la Con-
ception, named Rene Tsondihouonne. This good
man is nothing but charity and love for the faith : he
goes the rounds of the cabins, visiting the sick,
instructing the Christians, preaching to the infidels,
confounding the impious; in a word, I may call him
the support of this Church and the Apostle of his
country. This winter, having begun to offer his
prayers, — after a recital that he had heard of the
fatigues and sufferings of Saint Paul, while working
for the conversion of the gentiles, — he could not
contain his tears; and, wholly transported outside
himself, and addressing Our Lord, he made to him
complaints of himself, with as much faith and fervor
as if he had seen him with his own eyes. ; Yes,
my Savior," he said to him, "it is true that I am
without zeal or love for you, and that I bear without
result the name of Christian. I have suffered noth-
ing in this world, and have done nothing in it to
make you known. [34] Paradise is indeed given to
those great Saints, who have shed their blood and
who have died for the defense of the faith; Saint
Paul has deserved it. But how can I lay claim to it,
when I suffer nothing for you? No, my Lord, I do

J<s LES RELATIONS DES J&SUITES [Vol.29

Seigneur, ie ne le merite pas: Deliberez de ma
demeure apres la mort; ie ne lairray pas de vous
benir dans les enfers, fi vous m'y voulez enuoyer:
I'y loiieray vos mifericordes, & l'amour que vous
aurez eu pour moy, & ie diray que ie m'en fuis rendu
indigne : ie vous y aimeray, & alors ie vous y offriray
mes peines: faites fur moy vos volontez: Mais
puifque les grands Saints ont tant fouffert pour vous
des cette vie, faites au pluftoft que ie fois digne de
fouffrir ce qu'ils ont fouffert, que ie patiffe & que ie
meure pour la foy.

Ce bon homme ne penfoit pas alors eftre entendu,
eftant luy feul dans la Chappelle: mais vn de nos
Peres qui furuint a la fin de fon oraifon, eut aflez
bonne oreille pour en recueillir quelques reftes, &
entr'autres ce peu que ie viens de dire. Et quelque
temps apres le Pere luy ayant demande, qui [35] luy
auoit enfeigne cette priere: Perfonne, refpondit il;
mais ie fentois dans le fond de mon cceur, que Noftre
Seigneur me reprochoit le peu que i'ay fait pour luy:
& me faifant connoiftre en mefme temps l'amour
qu'il m'a porte, & l'amour que luy ont porte Saint
Paul & tant de Saints Martyrs, i'auois honte de l'aimer
fi peu, & ne fcauois ou me cacher dans cette confu-
fion, finon dedans l'Enfer; ie n'en auois aucune
horreur, ne fongeant alors a aucune autre chofe,
finon que i'euffe tout voulu fouffrir pour Dieu.

Ce bon homme fera les heures, & quelquefois les
nuidts quafi entieres en Oraifon, & d'ordinaire deux,
trois & quatre fois le iour, au milieu de la Chappelle,
nonobftant les plus grandes rigueurs du froid; la
telle, les pieds & les iambes toutes nues, couuert
feulement d'vne peau de quelque belie fauuage:

16461 RELATION OF 1645-46 289

not deserve it. Ordain my abode after death, — I
will not fail to bless you in hell, if you choose to
send me thither ; I will there praise your mercies and
the love that you will have had for me, and I will say
that I have rendered myself unworthy of it. There
I will love you, and then I will offer you my pains
there ; accomplish your will with respect to me. But
since the great Saints have suffered for you so much
in this life, cause that I as soon as possible be worthy
to suffer what they have suffered, — that I may endure
and die for the faith."

This good man did not then think that he was
heard, being entirely alone in the Chapel ; but one
of our Fathers, who happened to come in at the
end of his prayer, had sufficiently good ear to gather
some fragments of it, — and, among others, this little
that I have just related. And, some time after, the
Father having asked him who [35] had taught him
that prayer, he answered: " No one; but I felt in
the depth of my heart that Our Lord was reproaching
me at the little that I have done for him. As he
made me see, at the same time, the love which he
has borne for me, and the love which Saint Paul and
so many Holy Martyrs have borne for him, I was
ashamed to love him so little ; and I knew not where
to hide myself, in that confusion, if not in Hell. I
had no horror of it, not thinking then of any other
thing save that I would be willing to suffer every-
thing for God."

This good man will remain for hours, and some-
times almost whole nights, in Prayer, — and that
usually two, three, or four times a day, in the middle
of the Chapel, notwithstanding the greatest rigors of
the cold, his head, feet, and legs all bare, covered

290 LES RELA TIONS DES JESUITES [Vol. 29

mais quafi toufiours auec des fentimens de deuotion
fi tendres & fi puiffans, qu'il dit n'auoir point de
paroles pour nous les donner a entendre. Souuent,
dit-il, ie parle, & ie ne fcay ce que ie dis: On me
parle dans le fond [36] de mon ame, i'entends ce qu'on
me dit, & ne puis toutefois le redire : alors ie fens
comme vn feu dans mon cceur, que ie prends plaifir
d'y fentir, & que ie n'ofe efteindre; il me femble que
ie fuis tout proche de Dieu, & qu'il eft plus proche
de moy, & alors ie croy qu'il y a vn Dieu, a caufe
que ie le fens. Plus ie l'aime plus ie le veux aimer,
& il m'eft aduis que ie ne l'aime pas. Ie crains de
quitter la priere, comme vn homme affame\ qui crain-
droit qu'on ne luy of taft ce qu'il mange : mais plus
ie continue, plus il me femble que ie ne fais que
commencer.

A tout cela nous n'auons rien a dire, fmon : Bcatus
quern tu crudieris Domme, & de lege tud docueris eum :
car ce bon-homme, depuis huidt ans qu'il embraffa la
foy, nous fait reconnoiftre en fa vie exemplaire &
plus pleine de faindtete, que ne font fes paroles, que
Dieu feul eft fon maiftre.

1646] RELATION OF 1643-46 291

only with a skin of some wild beast; but nearly
always with sentiments of devotion so tender and so
powerful, that he says he has no words with which
to make us understand them. " Often," he says, " I
speak, and I know not what I say. Some one speaks
to me in the depth [36] of my soul ; I hear what is
said to me, and yet I cannot say it again ; then I feel,
as it were, a fire in my heart, which I take pleasure
in feeling there, and which I dare not quench. It
seems to me that I am quite near to God, and that he
is nearer to me ; and then I believe that there is a
God, because I feel him. The more I love him, the
more I wish to love him, and methinks I do not love
him. I fear to cease prayer, like a famished man
who should fear lest one might take from him what
he is eating; but, the more I continue, the more it
seems to me that I am only beginning."

To all that we have nothing to say, unless, Beat us
qucm tu erudieris, Domine, et de lege tud docueris eum;
for this good man, within the eight years since he
has embraced the faith, makes us recognize in his
exemplary life, even more filled with holiness than
are his words, that God alone is his instructor.

NOTES TO VOL XXIX

(Figures in parentheses, following number of note, refer to pages

of English text.)

i (p. 23). — This place was on the south shore of the St. Law-
rence, near St. Ignace Island, a little above the mouth of Richelieu
River. Laverdiere (Champlain, p. 361, note) cites Sagard and other
early writers to show that the names Cap de la Victoire and Cap au
Massacre were given to the place in commemoration of the crush-
ing defeat there of the Iroquois, by Champlain and his savage
allies, in 1610.

2 (p. 49). — May 18 is here mentioned as " the eve of Pentecost; "
but the calendar for that year places this festival on May 20. A
little farther on, June 10 is given as a day " honored by the feast of
the Holy Trinity," which, however, apparently refers only to its
being the third Sunday after Trinity.

3 (p. 49). — Reference is here made to Lake George.

4 (p. 49). — Oiogue: the Hudson River (vol. xxviii., note 2).
Beauchamp (Ind. Names, p. 85) defines this word as "beautiful
river," but admits that Bruyas's definition, " at the river," may be
preferable.

5 (p. gj). — Oneugioure (also known as Ossernenon): situated a
little S. E. of the present Auriesville, N. Y. ; the scene of Jogues's
martyrdom, a few months later.

0 (P« 53)- — The "families" mentioned by Jogues are subdivi-
sions of the tribe, founded upon the relations of consanguinity among
its members; these divisions are variously termed, by modern
writers, "clans" and "gentes," and, in one form or another, are
fundamentally characteristic of the social organization of savage life
in all times and countries. This organization among the Iroquois
peoples, from the gens to the confederacy, is fully treated by L. H.
Morgan (himself an Iroquois), in his Ancient Society (N. Y., 1877),
chaps, ii.-v. He defines the gens as " a body of consanguinei de-
scended from the same common ancestor, distinguished by a gentile
name, and bound together by affinities of blood." Cf. Powell's
"Kinship and the Tribe; Kinship and the Clan," in U. S. Bur.
Ethnol. Rep., 1881-82, pp. xxxviii.-lxii. His definition recognizes

294 LES RELA TIONS DES J&SUITES

two principles of organization, based respectively on enatic kinship
(reckoning descent exclusively through females), and agnatic (reck-
oning only through males). The former group Powell distinguishes
as " clan; " the latter, as " gens."

Each clan or gens had its own distinctive name and symbol, — the
latter called its " totem, " among the Algonkin tribes. This totem
was " the mythical animal after whom the clan or gens was named;
and from which, in the mythic philosophy, it was genealogically
descended" (Brinton). With this idea of descent is connected the
worship, prevalent in so many savage tribes, of animals or of ances-
tors,— the two being often synonymous. Among the Iroquois, there
have been eight different clans, — the only ones common, however,
to all of the Six Nations being those of the Wolf, Bear, and Turtle.
To the Wolf clan, among the Mohawks, Jogues made a special and
valuable present ; those who killed him belonged to another clan.

7 (P- 55)- — The palm was a measure of length, of ancient origin,
and, as the name implies, derived from the space occupied by the
human hand. From it came the measure of that name employed
in some parts of Southern Europe. The palm of Nice was 261.5
millimeters; that of Sardinia, 248.4 (Littre).

8 (p. 109). — Concerning this seclusion of Indian women, see vol.
ix., note 23.

9 (p. 123). — For information as to Tadoussac and its trade, see
vol. ii., note 51; vol. ix., note 4.

10 (p. 125). — Jean, sire de Joinville, was a noted French historian
(1224- 1319), belonging to one of the most illustrious families of
Champagne; see A. F. Didot's sketch of his life and works in
Hoefer's Biog. Ghiirale, t. 26. His principal work, and that re-
ferred to in the text, is E Histoire et chronique du tres-chrestien
roy S. Eoys IXe du nom (Poitiers, 1547).

11 (p. 275). — Dogique: see vol. xxvii., note 1.

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